The United Kingdom is a respected and prestigious country, with a history spanning millennia. The Isles were originally inhabited by Celtic peoples, such as the Picts, Welsh, and Britons. Over the course of later centuries, the invasion and conquest of what is now modern day England by the Roman Empire resulted in Roman culture and peoples spreading throughout Roman Britannia, assimilating the Celtic natives that lived throughout Roman-inhabited Britain. Shortly after the Western Roman Empire’s collapse in 476 CE, Germanic tribes such as the Jutes, Angles and Saxons migrated to the Isles in vast numbers, overpowering the local Roman-Britons and establishing their own Kingdoms: Wessex, Mercia, Northumbria, East Anglia, Essex, Kent and Sussex. The later unification of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms formed England, which then went on to conquer or diplomatically subjugate its neighbours in the isles. The Kingdoms of Scotland, Ireland, and the Principality of Wales were made into vassals before their annexation by England in the 17th and 18th centuries. The Kingdom of Great Brytain was created through the Acts of Union in 1707, becoming the United Kingdom of Great Brytain and Ireland in 1800 with Ireland’s annexation by Great Brytain. To this day, the isles remain united under one flag and one sovereign, but sociopolitical and religious issues plague the nation, threatening to bring down all that has been worked for. With renewed tensions throughout the world, separatists and ethno-nationalists have become emboldened, causing the crown and parliament great distress.

The United Kingdom of the Brytish Isles is a global power, with a first-world economy and armed forces. It is able to project its power and influence on a global scale with its powerful navy and notably focuses on retaining its already considerable influence in regions previously owned or dominated by the Brytish Empire, including in and around countries that feel threatened by this power projection. It is currently most active in Africa and the Middle East, where it is in armed conflict with Islamic terrorist groups such as ISIL and Boko Haram. However, with the defeat of ISIL in Syria, Brytain has turned its counterterrorism operations to India and the rest of South Asia. Brytain is also increasing its influence in SE Asia in response to Chinese advances and threat to its allies in the region.

Etymology

Politics and Government

The Brytish Isles has a parliamentary government based on the Westminster system that has been emulated around the world: a legacy of the Brytish Empire. The parliament of the United Kingdom meets in the Palace of Westminster and has two houses: an elected House of Commons and an appointed House of Lords. All bills passed are given Royal Assent before becoming law.

The position of prime minister, the United Kingdom’s head of government, belongs to the person most likely to command the confidence of the House of Commons; this individual is typically the leader of the political party or coalition of parties that holds the largest number of seats in the Commons. The prime minister chooses a cabinet and its members are formally appointed by the monarch to form Her Majesty's Government. By convention, the monarch respects the prime minister's decisions of government.

Economic Policies and Structure

The United Kingdom pursues autarky and self-sufficiency with great determination. Domestic industries are heavily subsidised and numerous campaigns supporting Brytish businesses have come about since the appointment of James White-Patel as Prime Minister. "Buy Brytish" is a slogan often used by private businesses supporting this autarkic and nationalistic model.

Cultural Practices and Norms

Language
The official and most widespread language in the Brytish Isles is English, with recognised minority languages being found across the United Kingdom. Scottish Gaelic, Irish and Welsh are the most prominent minority languages. A state institution regulates English grammar and spelling, whilst the devolved assemblies of Scotland, Ireland and Wales regulate their own Celtic tongues. Broken grammar and spelling are nipped at the bud and children quickly learn to use English or the recognised minority languages as the state demands. Other languages — like Polish or Chinese — are legal but non-English speakers are required to learn English at least to a conversational level. Not doing so blocks one’s path to obtaining citizenship and other benefits.

Honours System
The Brytish honours system is a means of rewarding individuals' personal bravery, achievement or service to the Brytish Isles. Candidates are identified by public or private bodies or by government departments or are nominated by members of the public. Nominations are reviewed by honours committees, made up of government officials and private citizens from different fields, who meet twice a year to discuss the candidates and make recommendations for appropriate honours to be awarded by the monarch, the ceremonies of which are conducted at Buckingham Palace.

Historically a knighthood was conferred upon mounted warriors. By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior. In the modern age, it is still an elitist institution and those who receive knighthoods are persons of great prestige, reputation and/or valiant individuals whom have faced great danger and fought bravely for the United Kingdom in military service. The female equivalent of a knighthood is a damehood.

Marriage and Partnerships
Brytons are a monogamous and faithful people. People are often quite attached to their partners and classes on correct behaviour and conduct has aided in a significant drop in cases of adulatory and unfaithfulness. Brytons — and the government — are often off-put by foreign marriage traditions, especially polygamy, which many Brytons view as perverted and lustful. Brytons also do not marry young as one is expected to be very cautious about relationships and be critical about them.

Politeness and Etiquette
// WIP //

The Home, Family Roles and Childrearing
Whilst modern Brytons aren’t that overly concerned about family, roles or the sort, the government is trying to change this. The government has subsidised certain family types and has changed the education system to fit its desires. In school, boys — as well as girls — are educated in home-living, family and taking care of oneself. Both sexes are taught to do housework and other basic tasks. They are disciplined and taught to share housework with their partners and others who live under the same roof. As a result, children being educated under White-Patel’s government are more likely to aid their parents in housework and overall act more consciously in living at home. Students above the age of 16 are also taught about childrearing and encouraged to help their parents and carers in rearing their siblings.

Environmental Attitudes
Since the appointment of Prime Minister White-Patel, the government has strongly cracked down on littering and the spoiling of the environment. The youth are strongly educated in caring for the environment and reducing waste, and critical thinking skills are taught nationwide in connection with reducing waste.

Relations to Authority
The Brytish population is generally compliant and don’t tend to stir up trouble without proper reason. Children are educated very young to respect the authority of parents, those in the police and other services, and the government. The introduction of manners and etiquette education into some public schools has reduced rebelliousness towards authority amongst the students somewhat. This practice will be spread across the country with the hopes of nationwide usage by 2025.

Religion and Beliefs
As of 2019, the majority of the Brytish population belong to the Christian faith, divided into numerous denominations and sects, the most adhered to of which is Anglicanism. A quarter of of the population are irreligious, including atheists, agnostics and other like-minded individuals. The remaining percentage belong to other religions, including Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism and others.
In this day and age, Brytains tend to not be very devout or pious people, and church attendances in particular have dropped greatly in the past few decades. The fastest growing affiliations amongst the population are “no religion”, “”Unspecified” and - surprisingly - “Pagan”. Germanic Paganism is the fastest growing theistic affiliation, even spreading to the Celtic nations in the UK.

Social Views

Gender Equality
The majority of Brytons are supportive of gender equality. Both men and women are respected and can access any area of work without discrimination. However, many men and women stick to certain roles or areas of employment. Whilst some believe this is not good enough, most are content with the current state of affairs and prefer not to upset the new norm. Quotas aren’t taken particularly seriously and are rather seen as detrimental by many. To combat any need for quatas, more women are being trained and educated in traditionally masculine jobs like medicine, science, business and politics.

Climate Change
The majority of Brytons know climate change exists and there are government-sanctioned campaigns to lessen humanity’s impact on the planet. There is a social obligation to recycle certain materials and items, and litter is heavily frowned upon. The government is incentivising private companies and charities to switch to greener and more renewable sources of energy. The government is researching thorium and experimenting with mini thorium power plants in an effort to phase out coal and fossil fuels. Recently, Parliament declared a "Global Environmental Crisis" and has doubled-down on its environmentalist measures.

LGBT+
Most Brytons have few issues with non-heterosexual persons. Homosexuals, asexuals and bisexuals are quite welcomed and government campaigns have helped improve their image in Brytish society. Non-heterosexual persons have given many orphans new homes and loving families.

Abortion
Brytons are usually rather liberal in regards to abortion. Whilst many oppose it on theological and moralistic grounds, most accept it and believe it should be accessible to anyone who requires it. Brytons often disapprove mindless breeding and consider it lowly, and so methods of population control are welcomed. To counter any decline in population, the government promotes breeding and births when a decline is expected in the near future. Some Brytons approve of accessible abortions largely because it will root out "undesirable young" such as those with disabilities or deformities. Some even support mandatory abortions. However, these types are a minority.

Immigration
Most Brytons are rather on the fence with immigration. Whilst many agree that it is fine and even desirable, many also believe that the would-be migrants must belong to certain cultures and/or faiths in order to be allowed in. The acceptability of "barbaric" and "primitive" cultures like those of non-western Muslims and African tribals are hotly disputed and many support an outright ban on immigration from certain regions of the world - whilst encouraging immigration from others like Guangzhou, Scandinavia and Japan.