Can you be seen as being "patriotic" ; if you support one political party no matter what they do to the country as a whole?

I feel patriotic in the sense that I love the landscape, many of our traditions, the tolerance of people. But I am also ashamed of the way our political system (first past the post) produces built-in division. I'd feel more patriotic if we had proportional representation. And if the house of Lords could be abolished and replaced by an elected body.

I’m not sure that patriotism means the same thing to everybody. Some people who have been born overseas fully embrace their new country, learn the language and customs, are proud to be part of their new country and make it their home in every sense of the word. Some don’t. Some expats are fiercely patriotic to their original country even generations after their family have moved overseas, some aren’t. Perhaps it’s more about the person. Perhaps it’s about how nationhood is instilled in you in your youth. All I know is that I’ve never met a Welsh person, anywhere in the world who isn’t patriotic - and it’s not about the government at all, although it is about the rugby, the singing, and the hiraeth.

Patriotism -v- politics.
We were friendly with a German woman whose family loved Germany but despised Hitler, as did so many.

I am not that sure what patriotism is apart from supporting the right team an having a preference for the physical attributes of the country I live in. Many people of different nationalities, born and brought up here, feel alien in what might be defined as their 'own' country. The same applies to expats who have lived most of their lives in another country. and then come back to the UK.

I have always felt Scottish but not in a Scots Nat way. More that I identify with the country and its people and customs (mainly)

Casdon

In my head patriotism is separate to politics. It’s about a sense of belonging to your county, with its specific traditions, customs and values, its uniqueness. Cymru am byth!

Poor government erodes the economy, and our sense of well-being, but it’s transitory. I’m not slavishly devoted to a party, because it only takes a change of leader and direction to move away from my own beliefs, but I could never espouse Tory values.

I started to write on those lines yesterday Casdon.

I would have said that I think, and I'm encouraged by what I read here to think, that patriotism is to do with country not politics and parties.

But if that is the case we really ought to be very wary of parties who try to userp it.

It depends what you mean by 'patriotic'. I want the best for my country and its people though that will mean different things to different people. I support Scotland at rugby and - thanks to my English sons - England at cricket. In many ways, I'm a patriotic Scot, and a patriotic Brit, but can see many shades of right and wrong in both.

I feel very fortunate to have been British but I'm not sure I am particularly patriotic and I certainly don't see a link between patriotism and political parties. tbh I am sickened by some of the things that have been done in my name by democratically elected governments. I will of course, do my duty as a member of British society eg pay my taxes, respect the law, vote in elections and if necessary, fight to protect our right to exist as a self governing country Nothing to do with Brexit I might add but that is nothing really to do with "Patriotism" per se. I don't think political parties can claim to be patriotic either. They live or die by creating divisions in society, not by healing them, short term policies designed to keep them in power rather than to do the best for society as a whole. Gosh I've become very cynical!

Patriotism has some to do with which party is in power, but not all. Neither of the two mainstream choices fill me with any hope. Nathan 1997 claims " there are 4 main components, a special affection towards one country, defining yourself through his or her country, being interested in counrys welfare, and sacrificing for the sake of same,." The main parties are globalist, and will sacrifice us to meet those ends. I despair.

I don’t see patriotism as linked to politics. In fact, doing so can lead to extremism, to parties like UKIP and Britain First, who do not represent me, or the majority.
I feel connected to my English history, identify as English before British despite having Scot’s, Welsh and Irish in my DNA (and Northern European). I’m not a royalist but I enjoy the rituals and seeing all the kings horses and men.

I could never vote Tory, my northern roots and experience especially of the past 12 years rule that out.

In my head patriotism is separate to politics. It’s about a sense of belonging to your county, with its specific traditions, customs and values, its uniqueness. Cymru am byth!

Poor government erodes the economy, and our sense of well-being, but it’s transitory. I’m not slavishly devoted to a party, because it only takes a change of leader and direction to move away from my own beliefs, but I could never espouse Tory values.

DaisyAnneReturns The question is, who decides that harm is being done. Everything is a matter if opinion. Someone can dee that the party they support has a policy that is clearly going to cause problems, but argue, with complete justification, on their part that the other party's policy is even more damaging.

Alternatively they may disagree with their party on one policy but be happy that the rest of their policies are good and on balance less harm will be done if they continue voting for them, than let the alternative party in.

As i said it is a matter of opinion and just because you support one party and think with very cogent reasons that the other party's policy will be disastrous for the country, they think the same of your party, and while you think all your arguments against the other party prove how dreadful their policies are , they think exactly the same of your party and your argumenys.

It is all a matter of opinion.

nanna8

You can strongly disagree with the politics in your country but still love your country with a passion. Politics isn’t the people, just a bunch of people who are supposed to , but don’t, represent the people.

Absolutely agree.
After all, politicians come and go but my county will always be my county, nothing can change that.

I don’t trust Labour, promise everything deliver nothing, borrow up to the hilt and put money in obscure causes, but so disappointed with Tories, in particular Liz Truss, the damage she did in a few weeks (and she gets a pension) is a disgrace, that is the reason we are in such a financial mess. She should not be allowed to get away with it and certainly doesn’t deserve a pension, that should be removed. She didn’t act in this countries best interest quite the reverse.

I was brought up to see myself as a 'citizen of the world'. I love many things about my country (England) but none of them is connected to the politicians who have ruined both it & Great Britain as a whole.

I think 'patriotism' is often used by politicians to manipulate people. Samuel Johnson said 'patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel' when he had William Pitt the then PM in his sights and the same might be said of some present day politicians like Trump but also some much closer to home who lied about the illusory benefits of Brexit and continue to do so. No political party has a copyright on true patriotism but we need to distinguish it from simple minded nationalism.

Nexus you do know the SNP "scandal" has been manufactured by outsiders to cause trouble ? There have been no charges made against anyone .Look at the new "sir" Allister Jack whose job and purpose is to destroy the SNP and Independence.
The will of the people of Scotland is that SNP are in charge ...otherwise we wouldn't keep voting for them.Think hard before you vote labour they'll turn us back to their English led system where people come last .No more free tuition for your GC or free bus travel for them helping both parents an dthe environment and a huge list of other GOOD measures put in place in the past decade.
The SNP have done more for SCOTS of all political persuasions than Labour did in the 70 years before .Dont believe LABOUR propaganda ,its meant to divide and keep us from being a NORMAL INDEPENDENT COUNTRY who doesn't hand over is wealth to its next door neighbour Remember Labour and Tories stood on the same platform in the Better Together campaign and where did that get us? Out of the EU and tied to a government in WM we haven't voted for in any numbers since 1955!!

I’m English before British. I support English teams before other teams in the UK, though I’d support a British team in a competition against other countries.
Since I don’t think any government has done the best for their country for a long time, I view politics and patriotism as separate items, so voting patriotically wouldn’t be helpful.

Being patriotic is supporting your country, what is best for people’s quality of life. I do lean towards one party but if it didn't reflect my values and my conscience I wouldn’t vote for them. There are no quick fixes, sometimes unpopular decisions have to be made, you can’t keep borrowing out of trouble. Pandemic package etc cost a fortune, mistakes were made but it hadn’t happened before. There’s a lot of armchair experts. Some people were not patriotic, didn’t think of all the sacrifices the majority made,.
It’s Pride month, once to be really celebrated, now it’s something different, I’m not proud of that any more, it’s become a platform for many extremists.
Boris commented about how we need heroes like those five people who died trying to get to the Titanic bolted into a coffin. .I wouldn’t vote for Boris or his skewed values.

Sorry, that was to Nexus

It would be interesting to know how you define patriotic when you say "I am very patriotic". What exactly does that mean to you?

i am scottish and have always voted snp, i want independence for scotland, but after all the problems about the missing money and police involement and i am no longer sure, and i am considering voting labour. i am very patriotic, i am scottish first and british second, i have never had a problem with other countries saying the queen or king of england and i love flower of scotland being played rather than god save the king.....so does that make me patriotic.

I would only vote for a party that’s manifesto would reflect my own values and beliefs and what I thought was best for my own country (does that make me patriotic?) So in past elections have voted on that basis.
Unfortunately like NanaDana come another election I would really struggle to know who to vote for.

nanna8

You can strongly disagree with the politics in your country but still love your country with a passion. Politics isn’t the people, just a bunch of people who are supposed to , but don’t, represent the people.

Spot on!

There are many different brands of "patriotism", a concept which sadly , is often hi-jacked by those with extreme views. As long ago as 1775, Samuel Johnson said: "Patriotism is the last refuge of the Scoundrel", and in my view, that still rings true today. Putin, Trump, Kim Jong Un... all cynically exploit it to their own, self-interested ends. I'm not saying that all forms of patriotism are necessarily bad, as National pride which is both inclusive and benevolent can most certainly be positive. As for associating it with any particular political party, I will only ever offer my support to one which accurately reflects my own value system as regards delivering fairness, equality, tolerance and freedom of expression to society. On that score, I have to admit that I'm struggling a bit at the moment..