The Olympics is one of the few occasions when we have an opportunity to feel collectively and unashamedly British, without the distracting taint of politics, Republicanism v Royalism or perceptions of English arrogance.

Am I alone in feeling, however, that the sight of Adam Peaty, Alex Yee and Keely Hodkinson, draped victoriously in the Union flag, celebrating their respective sporting successes, has been somewhat overshadowed by less venerable events taking place across this sceptred isle?

The sight of marauding gangs of Cro-Magnon morons laying waste to swathes of our cities, besieging mosques and residences housing terrified asylum seekers, looting, and setting fire to properties, and firing volleys of rocks, faeces, and urine at riot police, is hardly one to set the heart racing with national pride.

The concurrency of the two events is instructive in addressing the vexed question of what it means to be British.

That is because, despite repeated references to “UK riots” in certain newspapers, and even by the Prime Minister, what is happening strikes me as very much an English problem.

A man is detained as far-right activists hold a demonstration in Middlesbrough (Image: Getty Images)

The riots, to date, have taken place predominantly in English cities – with one in Northern Ireland – and, while it would be foolish to predict that such events could never happen north of the border, there is little evidence of any groundswell of racist disorder taking place here anytime soon.

If any Scottish reader thinks that I am exploiting the current situation to make a narrow, sectarian point, I would ask them to consider the following questions.

When the rioters describe themselves as British nationalists, do you believe they speak for, or represent, you or your interests?

........

© Herald Scotland