Quote Originally Posted by gaelic cowboy View Post
Yes a likely side effect of the "Were out here defending the empire from the Indians on the Frontier" Since the values of these people became intrinsically associated with symbols there cultural and political identity was at threat by its dilution at the core ie in London.
Very true, and I think the fact that traditional Britishness exists now more in the regions has had the effect of leaving many feeling of the regional British feeling betrayed and sold out by London.

Quote Originally Posted by gaelic cowboy View Post
Britishness is both doomed and assured at the same time for two reasons the COE is no longer the force it was and newer people have come to UK see Britishness in a differant light to a Orangeman. Until Britishness delinks from Orangeism it will be indigestible for many ordinary people in the UK it smacks of religous intolerence and that is unacceptable to most people.
Indeed, although remember there are different connotations that come with different understandings of Britishness, both historically and in the present. The sense of Britishness associated with the rise of the welfare state was one aspect that played a big role in helping Scottish Catholics integrate into the British state. Also, as I understand things, in England, Britishness is seen as the more tolerant form of patriotism, due to it's idea of including the various peoples of Britain (as opposed to English nationalism which has been quite heavily associated with far-right views and racism etc)