Baffled by 'British Core'? Here's what it should mean

It’s one thing to pin down the values of a political party but can you really extend that approach to a whole nation? The bloke in the security hall at Edinburgh Airport last week certainly thought he could. “We do not behave that way in this country. Apologise to that gentleman now”.

A small woman had pushed an older man aside in her haste to get to the conveyor belt but her actions had been spotted by someone who was checking the bags. He repeated his reprimand loudly but she simply blinked and looked non-plussed. That was when I realised she was probably from a country that views queuing as some quaint Scottish pastime, like caber tossing but more complicated.

Judging by the muttering all around, most people were on the side of the security man but to try and set parameters for our national behaviours in this day and age is a bold move. For the rest of the journey, it got me thinking about what else make us distinctive.

Sunburn art challenge

It’s been a subject of much discussion recently on TikTok. The social media platform beloved of the hard of thinking has moved away from the sunburn art challenge and DIY vampire fangs to embrace the idea of ‘British Core’.

Already there are more than 280 million posts exploring and celebrating what it means to be British. It ranges from our belief in fairplay and our respect for individual liberty through to our need to instantly apologise when someone barges into us.

Here in Scotland it gets even more distinctive. The traffic cone on the Duke of Wellington’s statue in Glasgow is peak Scottish Core, demonstrating our cheeky disregard for authority. So is any adult telling children their home “looks like the Blackpool illuminations” when they forget to switch lights off, whether or not anyone in the family has every visited the garish Lancashire town.

But it’s in one part of the home where Scottish Core is most visible. From serving up chips with macaroni in a double carb-fest to turning sausages square and buying well-fired rolls, the kitchen must be a place of bafflement and wonder for most visitors from abroad. No wonder they don’t believe us when we tell them what is really in haggis.

Caring about others

Perhaps a nation nourished on this stuff does develop a distinctive set of behavioural characteristics? Either way, I’m happy to be part of a country where we don’t queue jump or push people out of the way just so we can get somewhere faster. That’s because, despite all our many challenges, we still care about other people.

We’re still a country where all ages and backgrounds rush forward when an old person trips in the street and falls flat on their face. I know that for a fact because I saw it happen last week.

It might not make great TikTok content but if British Core is being willing to help another person then, alongside fish and chips, the NHS and James Bond, that is something we can all embrace and celebrate.