England is "not a valid country".

[Deleted User]

LilElvis wrote: »

Wow, it must be quite some form as its taken a day and a half to complete!

I didn't spend a day and a half filling it in.

I just didn't fill it in straight away.

Was there a box to tick that enabled you to declare that you are English?

There wasn't a tick box at all.

There was just a text box, marked Nationality.

Azari

antrobus wrote: »

Eh? Don't you understand the process here? We're talking about the electoral register. It sensibly first asks the question 'What is your nationality?' and gives you the option of British, Irish, or other. If you are a British or Irish national then an appearance on the electoral register means that you can vote in any UK election. If you select 'other', then it asks you to select which nationality you do have, because the citizens of certain Commonwealth and European countries also have the right to vote. (Although that right is qualified for EU citizens.)

The franchise is legally defined in the Representation of the People Act and those that compile the electoral register are obliged to follow the law. Specifically the law extends the franchise to those who are either a "Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland", and the British Nationality Act sets out those countries whose citizens are commonwealth citizens. Sadly, England is not one of them.

All this is completely and utterly irrelevant.

If you enter a datum in a form saying you are English (or Welsh or Scottish, etc) it can be taken completely unambiguously that your are British.

Knowing that many people are proud of their specific country of origin there is no reason why they should not be allowed to enter it (as you can on the paper form), since it can cause no possible confusion.

There are too many little Hitlers running around trying to make people conform for no good reason and far too many Uncle Toms here cravenly supporting them.

Comyface

I have a friend who claims not to be English, but Scouse before anything else.

LilElvis

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

I didn't spend a day and a half filling it in.

I just didn't fill it in straight away.



There wasn't a tick box at all.

There was just a text box, marked Nationality.

So all is well and you can claim the nationality you prefer. Hopefully your blood pressure has returned to normal.

Thank you for the warning re the online form as it might have brought on a coronary in my husband as there would definitely not be a nice drop-down selection for a person who is half Welsh/ half German, lives in England and holds both German and British passports. At least he is happy about the World Cup.

Edwood_Woodwood

I have sympathy for the OP.

I dislike using the term British and never refer to myself as such, it is always Welsh.

However, with these kind of forms one has to accept the British tag as using a home nation is usually not an option.

The union of the UK, Gt Britain, Britain or whatever other term is used is quite unique and unlike any other union of countries elsewhere in the world & can be very complicated to an outsider of these isles.

Can you believe that right up to the 90's the Scots & English both sang God Save the Queen together prior to a rugby international between them?

I'm British only once every 10 years for my passport.

NBLondon

pmduk wrote: »

England is not a valid country name to answer in that field. That doesn't mean it isn't a country. We all should have known the correct answer is British

...exactly and still people debate. BB's initial attempt was declaring himself to have English citizenship - which has no validity in the circumstances (or any other apart from perhaps the EDL application form).

I can declare myself a citizen of the People's Republic of South Yorkshire and present my Sheffield Passport to the US immigration authorities - but I don't think they'll let me in

philatio

You should get a permanent marker and everywhere in your passport it says "Great Britain" or "British" scribble it out and write "England" and "English" instead. And on the front, over the coat of arms of the United Kingdom, stick a nice big St Georges Cross.

I'm sure they'll understand at Passport Control when you explain you're English not British.

Edwood_Woodwood

philatio wrote: »

You should get a permanent marker and everywhere in your passport it says "Great Britain" or "British" scribble it out and write "England" and "English" instead. And on the front, over the coat of arms of the United Kingdom, stick a nice big St Georges Cross.

I'm sure they'll understand at Passport Control when you explain you're English not British.

You would be prosecuted as it is Crown property you defaced.

Also, it is the Crown's insignia on the front, not the UK's.

Morglin

I find it simple enough - using online forms, it's necessary to click either British/UK.

Paper forms can be crossed through and white/English entered (or whatever part of the UK you come from, or whatever ethnic origin you are).

Bit like the fact that a lot of forms ask for 'details of 'partner', and all I have got is a husband lol - some forms can be altered, online firms cannot (usually).

Lazy form design really.

Lin

subboy2

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

Just received a form to register to vote.

Went to complete it on line.

The second question is "What is your nationality?"

The options are:-

British

Irish

Citizen of a different country

I choose the 3rd option, and a box appeared entitled "Country name".

I entered "England" and clicked "Continue"

It refused to allow that, on the grounds "This is not a valid country". :mad:

Not really difficult is it. You choose 'Britain'.

*click*