I refer to the article by Daphne Caruana Galizia (TMID 13 July) entitled “The Crazy People of Malta”. Rightly so, she tried to explain the wrong use of the Union Jack to celebrate the victories of the English team in the world cup.

But unfortunately, although she was right on this, she got all the rest wrong.

The Union Jack is the official flag of “The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland” and not of Britain. Britain is only a shortened geographical expression meaning the biggest island of the British Isles.

The proper geographical and political name should be Great Britain. Great Britain consists of the countries of England, Wales and Scotland. Therefore, the Union Jack represents four football associations those of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Then as a further explanation, the British Isles consists of the islands of Great Britain and all the island of Ireland. This term also includes all the minor islands such as the Isle of Man, the Shetlands etc.

This is only a geographical expression as politically Ireland is divided into two, Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. In fact, in the Republic of Ireland the use of the term British Isles, is sometimes seen as controversial. This should clarify the whole question of the British Isles and the use of the various geographical and political names.

Carmel J Farrugia

Sliema