American Reacts to 'Why is Liverpool Different from the Rest of England?'

[@npe1]

As a proud Mancunian and Man Utd supporter, I love Liverpool and Scousers. I'm so proud that in the North West of England we have two great cities just 35 miles apart and we've always been mutually dependent - the cotton used in the Manchester textile industry came via the port of Liverpool and the finished cotton goods were exported through the same port. Liverpool is a port city and like port cities around the world it has always been progressive, open minded and multi cultural - a bit like San Francisco and New York City. Liverpool has the oldest Chinese and the oldest Black communities in Britain. Liverpool is comfortably the most progressive, left leaning city in the UK with a proud history of rebellion and standing up for worker's rights and that's why the media and establishment have always been against the city. But its culture is vibrant has produced so many stars, especially in music. Liverpool has also produced most of the best comedians in Britain because adversity usually produces great comics.

[@paulmckernan7518]

Is right bro, from a scouser, Manchester is a fantastic city too, filled with incredible history, hard working people with great sense of humour, AMAZING music scene. We're not different at all.❤

[@RickyBrownsword]

I worked loads of times in Manchester and l have loads of good mates...the two best cities in the UK

[@ruairiwhite6303]

Well said mate!!

[@theborderer1302]

@npe - Your right about cotton coming to Manchester came via the port of Liverpool, and exports the same, but Liverpool merchants absolutely ripped Manchester off with extortionate port fees both ways. That's why Manchester built the ship canal, to completely bypass the port of Liverpool. The high port fees and the building of the canal led to the historical rivalry between the two cities.

[@davidbrims5825]

You mean Marxist.

[@rickyp9386]

I'm a proud Yorkshireman, born and bred. But I absolutely adore Liverpool and Scousers; I often take my kids for days out there as they love the Mersey Ferry. Liverpool's stance on The S*n and the Tory government is admirable, they stand by their principles. Many Brits, especially Northern mining communities, celebrated the death of Maggie Thatcher.

[@michaeljones3694]

I remember the collections in Liverpool for the striking miners. I used to put a few bob in each time I went to town with my mates. I'm from Liverpool and my son lives in Leeds now and he loves it. (Not a patch on Liverpool though) His girlfriend from Wakefield couldn't believe how nice some of the areas in Liverpool are.

[@Hoge1994]

Maggies in the mud!! Haha is right fella 👊🏼

[@TJMcKenna-c9h]

Justice4orgreave and Bradford city

[@michaeljones3694]

@@TJMcKenna-c9h 100% mate

[@user-iu3rq5pl1u]

@rickyp9386 Thank you. I'm from Liverpool, x

[@john43397]

The Hillsborough disaster was televised live for the whole nation and subsequently the world to see. There was not a single frame of video showing. Pickpockets, drunken fans, fans urinating on anybody nor anything. There was a stream of continuous video frames, showing the fans helping, taking initiative, carrying people to ambulances, trying their best to tear down the fencing, using advertising hoarding as stretchers, fans warning the police that they had cocked up with the gates and a whole lot more.

[@ruthholbrook]

I remember the police by the pitch trying to stop people climbing the fence. They hadn't a clue what was happening right under their noses.

[@OldWolflad]

@@ruthholbrook So why did that jerk of a lecturer claim the whole of the UK was against Liverpool? A stupid thing to say and the vast majority (except perhaps down sarf) felt the same.

[@francisedward8713]

​​@@OldWolfladThe lecturer isn't a "jerk" (god I hate Americanisms) and while I don't think the whole of the UK was against Liverpool (I hate the us versus them mentality), respectfully I think you're clueless. Comments that I have had made about me have come just as much from Northerners (particularly Mancunians) as they have from Southerners. These stereotypes are not limited to the south in the slightest, much as Northerners love to demonise them.

[@ruthholbrook]

@@OldWolflad True, he was wrong. Most ordinary people from UK were disgusted with the way the police tried to *contain* the crowd and that too many had been let in. I saw the TV news at the time - the fans were being interviewed. All any authorities said was that there would be an enquiry.

[@OldWolflad]

@@francisedward8713 Ok fair enough, but he is saying some ill-advised things that are totally incorrect. Is he saying the good folk of Lancashire, Yorkshire, Durham, Northumberland, Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Warwickshire, Leicestershire were hating the Reds fans for what happened at Hillsborough? And blaming them? That is most of England and I can assure you the vast majority of us who were facing job closures in the 80s at coal mines and steel works were very anti-Thatcher and hated the southern press too. He is definitely over-egging the victim thing in that respect. Also the 'managed decline' thing was taken a bit out of context - The confidential government documents, made available under the 30-year rule, reveal Cabinet discussions following the July 1981 Toxteth riots. But then-Chancellor Lord Howe has said his short letter was misunderstood. The riots, which lasted for eight days. Some 460 police officers were injured during the disturbances, which began on 3 July. Sir Geoffrey Howe, now Lord Howe, thought it would be a waste of money. He warned Mrs Thatcher "not to over commit scarce resources to Liverpool. I fear that Merseyside is going to be much the hardest nut to crack. We do not want to find ourselves concentrating all the limited cash that may have to be made available into Liverpool and having nothing left for possibly more promising areas such as the West Midlands or, even, the North East. I cannot help feeling that the option of managed decline is one which we should not forget altogether. We must not expend all our limited resources in trying to make water flow uphill." On the other hand, the report added: - As the government sought to respond to the situation in 1981, Mr Heseltine was despatched to Liverpool. He reported back by phone to Mrs Thatcher on 25 July. The cabinet papers note: "Mr Heseltine considered the behaviour of the police in Liverpool 8 to be quite horrifying. They were not acting in a racialist fashion. They treated all suspects in a brutal and arrogant manner." He said: "It never really got any traction for the simplest reason that the cabinet minister responsible for so much of the policy that affected the city was me. I simply wouldn't countenance that you could say that one of England's great cities, a world city, was going into managed decline here." The lecturer only highlighted the bad aspect, not very balanced really was it!

[@ClaytonGriffiths-m1t]

I'm a 50 year old proud Scotsman (Liverpool supporter), my dad is from Liverpool & I have never bought the sun newspaper since

[@paulstanley8067]

❤ respect

[@ds.3577]

Your one of us!

[@BeyondtheIights]

From the heart off Liverpool and my grandparents are Irish and Scottish and ya can't get a better crowd all together than us lot

[@loucasanastasiou8068]

My grandparents moved to Liverpool in the 50s. I'm a proud Greek Cypriot Scouser :)

[@Weareeverything2023]

The fact that the Sun newspaper was dropped by the people of Liverpool, and to this day doesn’t sell in any numbers in the area, says everything about a city and its peoples strength and attitude. They understand truth and justice, and will fight united against it. The city does feel the rest of the UK looks at it differently than the rest of the UK, and cannot change its morals, right is right, lies are lies, justice is demanded, expected, even if it causes long term suffering. The city and its people are too strong to beat, miracles are believed in, as is the good nature of people. I’m Welsh and proud of it, but I feel an honorary Scouser.

[@seanchris8290]

I have many Scouse friends and have a great sense of humour, so when I say that most Liverpudlians are "the Irish who couldn't swim" most would find that funny.

[@richardkelsall3454]

as a scouser the best way to get people to change there view on liverpool is for them to come and visit the city and see what were about, they love it

[@matthewjamison]

I'm from N.Ireland & I love Liverpool & the people. I go over for the LFC matches when I can. The people are quite similar to us. Working class people, down to earth, who love a laugh, love a fight & has each other's back. YNWA

[@mrjinks5641]

@@matthewjamison Agreed but this scouse not English nonsense that a minority seem to shout is embarrassing.

[@geoffpoole483]

I did. It's a shithole.

[@rosbeynon1432]

I am from Oxford and I love Liverpool and so does all my family.

[@irenedavo3768]

Watch Scouse Farm

[@shirleyburnham2782]

I am a geordie from Newcastle and I love Liverpool and the people. I think Liverpool is on par with Newcastle

[@sarahwelty9223]

I love Newcastle the locals are so friendly and will go out of their way to help you👍

[@paulstyles4969]

100 percent

[@alemgas]

Most are on benefits common bond 😂

[@BeyondtheIights]

Geordie's are boss

[@dicklebilly3115]

@@BeyondtheIightsevery village has its idiot - well done on your promotion 👏👏🤣

[@StewedFishProductions]

Scouse is NOT a soup, its a stew... _(Must be served with 'Crusty, Buttered Bread' and a side of 'Pickled Red Cabbage' or 'Beetroot')._ Yum! Yum! 😋

[@markgarrity]

It should be home made as every home has its own recipe.

[@Barbara-s9c]

Not fussed om the taste of stewed meat. I have blind (meatless) scouse.

[@sarahwelty9223]

And don't forget the HP sauce!

[@coreyhobson438]

Arrr you’ve made me hungry, niceone lad 😂

[@octaviussludberry9016]

It should be kept in 'the big pan' on the stove for a few days too, till it gets a nice crust.

[@missteslaknutsen4421]

As a norwegian, it`s fun to see a norwegian dish adopted by others. It`s called lapskaus in norwegian. Also; I absolutely LOVE both Liverpool and Liverpool football club😍Scousers are my people🤩

[@irenedavo3768]

Please watch Scouse Farm

[@irenedavo3768]

Do you know the Diddy Men?

[@lennon1482]

liverpool and norway brothers , grew up on pans of scouse

[@robshepherd3782]

The 3rd football club in Merseyside is called Tranmere Rovers. Tranmere is from Norwegian.

[@missteslaknutsen4421]

@@robshepherd3782 Huh! I did`nt know that. How cool🥰

[@carminehulse4050]

Thanks for this video lad, brilliant. Appreciate you shedding light on this and spreading it to people who wouldn't be aware. Count yourself as an honorary scouser in my book. You'll never walk alone ❤

[@robinwbarrett]

The football rivalry in Liverpool is legend. The shopping centre "Liverpool One" is the home of Evertons fan shop which they called "Everton Two" purely so that the postal address read "Everton two Liverpool One! "

[@dicem8977]

😂😂

[@Weareeverything2023]

Probably the only way to achieve that.

[@ste2442]

Everton 1 is in Liverpool 4

[@AndrewEccles-l3i]

Great video. You’ll always be welcome here in Liverpool. Keep up the good work.

[@markjones127]

I live on what's known as the Scouse riviera, the North Wales coast, which makes us very close as it's always been a favourite holiday and day out destination for scousers, seriously if I go and walk along the local promenade every other person will be scouse on a sunny day, I love the scousers and Liverpool is an awesome city, I even support Liverpool FC.

[@mdx7460]

Oh yes I visit all the time from Liverpool, it’s a home from home love north wales

[@sarahwelty9223]

You'll never walk alone!👍

[@user-iu3rq5pl1u]

@@markjones127 Thank you, nice words x

[@doubledigital_]

i love my welsh fam :)) I been invading wales since the 80s xD haha

[@patjinkins382]

Ironically most people who insult Liverpool have never been here. I love my city and couldn't be more proud of it. Genuine people, most with the best sense of humour. (Which we certainly need) 😊

[@chrysalis4126]

I'm from Manchester and there is a long rivalry between the two cities traditionally but I really like Liverpool and its people.

[@prf7237]

If you say you have a great sense of humour, you've already proved you haven't.

[@JWW923]

@@prf7237shut up u daft twat

[@sarahwelty9223]

I was born and raised in Liverpool but left when I was 12. I still love it there and go back often. It's changed so much since the 1980s when I left

[@michaeljones3694]

I remember getting the bus to town, as a teenager, and still seeing bombed out buildings still there in the 80's. London was rebuilt relatively quickly compared to Liverpool. It was only money from Europe that helped the city to rebuild. Liverpool was the second most bombed British city during the war.

[@wirralnomad]

It was the worst bombed City in Britain so as to stop all of the resupplying from the US!

[@lesmartin8131]

Yeh, and my London was bombed to smithereens . Proud Clerkenwell Cockney.

[@sdm9099]

I am from the South and went to Liverpool University for 3 years in the mid 1980's when Liverpool was at its worse and, even then, it was a great place to live. You actually have to live there a while to understand the culture and it will get under your skin. We are going there soon for a few days to do our Christmas shopping as it has a great city centre of shops. Renting an AirBnB above the Cavern Club. Should be fun!

[@michaeljones3694]

There's a football video on KZbin of a German Leverkusen fan who rented an AirBnB above the Cavern this week, and he keeps saying "wow" . The apartment is unbelievable. Hopefully you'll be in the same one. Try to find the video if you can. (might be a bit noisy during the night though 😉

[@jarrac]

@@michaeljones3694put the link in a comment

[@sarahwelty9223]

Go to the Cavern restaurant if you get the opportunity the food is superb especially a good hearty bowl of scouse!

[@nicholascannon5001]

I knew that jimmy tarbuck came from Liverpool but I didn’t know the Beatles did 🤔

[@user-iu3rq5pl1u]

@@sdm9099 enjoy glad you love liverpool x

[@chrysalis4126]

I'm so glad that Jodie Comer and Stephen Graham have kept their accents. flying their flag for their city. Jodie did so many different accents in Killing Eve I had no idea she was a scouser. The design of the Hillsborough football stadium was very bad, my dad had been to a match there and had to get out because of the crush and that was years before the Liverpool match. The police letting a large number of fans into the stadium at once just caused a disaster.

[@markgarrity]

I've been on the Leppings Lane and on the day of Hillsborough was at the other semi-final. There was a philosophy of treat all football fans as hooligans it went beyond the police; to the FA, the media and politicians. It's not just the events of that day but the cover up conspiracy that followed it that continues to this day.

[@dicem8977]

When I was a wee boywhen and went on holiday either in the UK or Continental Europe, I always ended up making friends with Scousers every time. I think it's because as a Glaswegian, which is also an Irish immigrant city, we share a similar deprecating sense of humour and openness to meeting new people. I think there a lot of similarities between the two cities and I've seen this every time I've visited Liverpool, which is my favourite city in the UK.

[@michaeljones3694]

As Bill Bryson said Liverpool is the most Celtic city in England

[@prf7237]

So you a more interested in people who are similar ethnicity and background to you?

[@stevepulsar]

When Thatcher died my city-Liverpool helped get a song to number 1 in the UK music charts, it was called "Ding Dong The Witch is Dead" obvously it was blocked from radio playlists but was actually number 1.

[@ScouseWill79]

I still celebrate each year when the memory pops up on fb lol

[@Jackie-ji2sj]

Vile thing to do. Thatcher was a brilliant PM.

[@ScouseWill79]

If you were middle or upper class then I guess she would've been

[@LilMonkeyFella87]

In Greater Manchester , about 25 miles from Liverpool, there is a town called Leigh. Their signature dish associated with the area is called Lobby, which is essentially lobscouse. Everyone has their own variant. People from Leigh are sometimes referred to locally as "Lobby gobblers" . Leigh is connected to Liverpool through its canal system. So possibly the dish ended up in Leigh through its trade routes back in the day

[@ajs41]

Is Leigh closer to Liverpool or Manchester, not in distance but culturally speaking?

[@lennon1482]

@@ajs41 leigh are wools if there ever was a wool more like manchester , they call it lobby in stoke aswell

[@LilMonkeyFella87]

@@ajs41 more like Manchester culturally. Its pretty much in the middle of both. It was a mill/cotton town, so it grew through its trade of cotton down the Leeds and Liverpool canal. Lot of mining in neighbouring towns and villages, so lot of industry. Very working class area. Even now the focus on transportation has been streamlining Leigh to Manchester, though technically Liverpool is 5 miles closer, in modern times I don't think theyve needed to focus on Liverpool, especially with it being out of the metropolitan borough. So I think the influence is more heavy from Manchester or the big neighbouring town of Wigan

[@TheComputec]

@@LilMonkeyFella87 I think Leigh was a lancashire town until the end of the 60's when it became part of Greater Manchester so It benefitted to some extend from the funding that Manchester got and was therefore protected from the Managed Decline when Thatcher came in... so it moved away from Liverpool whether it wanted to or not

[@fionadegnen9013]

Thank you for this fantastic video,my family orginate from Liverpool which I'm very proud of. I grew up about 30mins from Manchester but my heart was always in Liverpool,I loved going to stay at relatives who still lived around Liverpool when I was growing up. The people are definitely the most friendliest you will ever meet,they will help anyone out and their sense of humour is of the scale. What the government has done to and said about the city over the years has been more than disgusting (thats being polite!!) but scousers are proud and determined people and will always fight for justice. It's the best city and has the best people ever. Thank you Joel for showing this video,from a very proud scouser x

[@karlnoble7273]

Hi there, Jp I’m not from Liverpool but I am a very proud Liverpool supporter. I visit Liverpool maybe three times a year every year the people are wonderful with a excellent sense of humour. As for the accent when the Beatles came to America the American press thought they was American because of they accent , they didn’t recognise their British accent because it’s unique

[@ajs41]

A lot of Liverpudlians have Irish ancestry.

[@theviewfrombelow1922]

75% of us have some

[@prf7237]

I've just tiled my bathroom.

[@capt9]

That's a myth ​@@theviewfrombelow1922

[@octaviussludberry9016]

And Welsh

[@analoguearchives4578]

And Scottish

[@raythomas4812]

I went there for Eurovision with some Greeks..we loved the city and how friendly the locals are

[@shauntbarry]

Liverpool lad here born and bred in the 70's.. .. Lived through all the poverty in the late 70's/80/s .. Still get the same stereotypical comments wherever I go.. But i'm proud where i'm from. Thatchers' still dead though..

[@johnfisher9816]

An amazing video, Joel. Great reaction and commentary. I learned so much because in my experience Liverpool has a great reputation here in Canada. Our troop ships in both World Wars sailed from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Liverpool. It's unenviable place in modern English history is surprising and shocking me. Perhaps in my Summer 2025 trip to the UK, I'll get over to Liverpool. Again well done. Cheers, John in Canada

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

There's a reason why Liverpool fans sing 'You'll Never Walk Alone'. They mean every word of it, it's not just a song for Liverpool fans. It's a song that represents the feelings of the whole city.

[@gordonsmith8899]

Liverpool, England's principal west coast port, has a large population of Irish ancestry. Glasgow, Scotland's west coast port, has a similar link with Ireland.

[@prf7237]

And Norwich.

[@alemgas]

Nothing to boast about

[@elizajohn5]

@@alemgas Idiot.

[@mary-y8x8h]

Last year, I took an Open University course about People's Protest in Language and the Arts which I really enjoyed. One course unit dealt with the Hillsborough Disaster. As this video shows, Mrs Thatcher was no fan of the City but she was interested in her image as far as Red Tops were concerned, and the high circulation paper The Sun had backed her in her electoral campaigns. So, it was no surprise that when the Sun ran its reports, behaviour of the fans was pushed to the fore and statements given at the time from Government echoed the Sun's opinion, rather than for example 'The Guardian's'. With pressure from the Hillsborough group, it has become clearer over the subsequent decades of what really happened that day had been covered up, but no one has received punishment. Liverpool people have not forgotten, or forgiven, and the campaign to boycott The Sun has had a lasting effect on the circulation to this day. (BTW I loved this course learned masses and passed with distinction 🥲and would recommend it to anyone interested in the subject of 'People's' Protest'.

[@amandanash8464]

Its not really like that in Liverpool, most class themselves English, just against the government especially Tories as they feel they are against the working class people.

[@jabbra1837]

Yeah I've not really noticed these attitudes, I've been in Liverpool for 15 years now and honestly most people don't really care where you're from 🤷🏻‍♂️ Maybe it's an older generational thing, my Nan absolutely hates the royal family and I've never understood that either.

[@benconnolly4258]

​​@@jabbra1837 as a millennial this is deffo a boomer/ gen x thing

[@maximus6622]

@@amandanash8464 Not just Liverpool, as a council estate Londoner, most of us poor, working class people, hated the Tories as well 👍

[@aldozilli1293]

I think Liverpool has had so much influx from Wales and Ireland that is the origin of first the distinctive accent but secondly why some see it as its own place outside of England and many historically were brought up due to Welsh or Irish roots, with negativity towards 'England'. Like you say this is also heavily based on the working class background, antipathy to London and the richer South and Tory governments

[@kevanbodsworth9868]

That is legit and I am the same , I am not royalist but still thats what we have as a symbol we are together despite the crappy governments , Its bad idea Liverpool people ,I would not sing the anthem but boo and such ? No .

[@johnloony68]

Ricky Romlinson (the actor who played Jim in “The Royle Family”) is a Scouser. In the 1970s he was a left-wing trade union activist involved in the building industry. He was framed for violent disruptive activity and was imprisoned for a few months. It was only recently that his conviction was overturned by the Court of Appeal. After being imprisoned, he was blacklisted from working in the building industry and chose to become an actor and comedian instead.

[@ethanmccarty3293]

my dad was born in Ireland. my mom in Croatia. and I grew up in Liverpool but now live stateside. basically I sound like a mutt but I wouldn't change anything. YNWA

[@planetliverpool4258]

My video 3.05 😀 Love the content Joel 🔥

[@grahamturner288]

As you said towards the end, many people are uncurious: they see a newspaper headline (or a social media post) and believe it without investigating further. Even if something is later disproved people either won’t realise that, or will think ‘yeah, but there’s no smoke without fire…’ and so the negative stereotypes unfortunately persist. Given everything in the video you could be forgiven for thinking that the people of Liverpool would be distrusting of, or antagonistic towards outsiders. I know that wasn’t your experience and, as a southern Brit myself, that wasn’t mine either: everyone was super friendly and helpful and welcoming and I always look forward to visiting again.

[@chelseamodsx2005]

@@grahamturner288 Yeah, Scousers are so accepting of the rest of the country that they boo the National Anthem. I wish the place could be given independence - see how long they last without the benefits being paid for by the country you hate.

[@stevenhighams4190]

I'm English, not British. Actually, I'm Yorkshire first, then English.

[@user-iu3rq5pl1u]

Enjoyed your video of liverpool. I just want to say thank you for showing this video, im from liverpool , hope to see you back here in the future x

[@ShafiqIshaq]

Welcome to the republic of Liverpool, l worked there for about ten years and I will never forget the scousers tolerance for people of different races and backgrounds as well as their sense of humour. Being a Muslim I never felt insecure being there, that says something profound about the people of Liverpool. (Greetings, respect, and regards from a Boltonian)

[@francisedward8713]

To be fair, I'm a Scouser, but currently down south for uni, and if anyone asks, I am an Englishman through and through and proud to be Scouse AND English. I don't think it's a rejection of being English so much as it is a rejection of the Westminster governments and stereotypes over the years. Maybe it's because I'm young and didn't live through all those events, but anecdotally most people I know would call themselves English. Liverpool is a beautiful city and nowhere down south hits the same. We have a lot to be proud of, and btw if you have any Irish ancestry and you're American, there's a 99% chance your ancestors made the voyage from the port of Liverpool to the US. The connection between Ireland and Liverpool is still very strong today. I'm proud of my Anglo-Celtic ancestry but I think anyone hating on the English because of historical tensions with the Irish (similar to a lot of so-called Irish-Americans) are just virtue-signalling to be honest. We Scousers ARE English, even if most of us have at least some Irish ancestry; to claim that Irishness over Englishness though seems disingenuous to me. We are not culturally Irish; again it reminds me of the Plastic Paddies in the US who don't really know the first thing about what actually being Irish means. Liverpool IS Liverpool, and it is also English. I love my city and I love my country (which more Brits need to do, hating ourselves and our own country is a national past time - especially England. The Scots and Welsh have more pride in their countries). 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

[@kate2.0.]

I agree. It changing gradually. And yes we rejected Westminster not the rest of the English ppl. Who we have a lot in common with. Especially the working class towns. I grew up hating England but my nephew is quite patriotic. Its only certain elements of England I hate. But I still will say I'm scouse of anyone asks me, then English second. But I think the distinction between England, Scotland and Wales is an important one. British always feels weird for me to say tbf. Scots say they are from Scotland, the Welsh say they are from Wales, so it makes sense to say you are English in many aspects of life.

[@mrjinks5641]

💯%👍

[@francisedward8713]

@@kate2.0. Agreed with the distinction! I am not Scottish or Welsh - I'm English, and that means something or SHOULD. We need to reclaim it in a way the Scots and Welsh have with their identity. I'm glad your nephew is - as am I - a rarity among Gen Z. I think it has a lot to do with the sheer size of England and English culture being the default almost, that people cannot distinguish that X or Y is actually very English and not "British". What distinguishes us is that English is by and large a Germanic culture, rather than a Celtic one. The Scots, Irish and Welsh are very genetically similar in the same way the English are with the Dutch, Germans and Scandinavians. Sadly, waving an English flag these days is seen as meaning you're racist and far-right. I didn't really start to realise about English culture until I started learning Old English (Anglo Saxon - not Shakespearean) and reading Beowulf. Our heritage is extremely rich and in many ways incomparable in terms of what has been achieved. For example, people obsess over the Vikings, when in actuality the Anglo Saxons were the OG Vikings; and the Anglo Saxons had some of the best rights and laws for women in the entire medieval world at the time, simply unparalled in terms of gender equality at the time. So much to unpack about our identity and how we can trace a lot of our traditions and customs back to 450-500AD when our ancestors arrived here.

[@michaeljones3694]

Thousands of Irish fought for Britain in the WW1 and WW2. My great uncle was Irish and was in the Long Range Desert Group. When he visited relatives back home in Dublin, his own Auntie said to him "oh Bill, why are you wearing that uniform?" 😂

[@phreshkandy478]

well im also from liverpool and i dont consider myself english at all i hate england, mainly the (more often than not) tory voting people

[@pjmoseley243]

as a veteran I have served with every nationality and they are all great people nothing negative to say about them many speak with other accents depending where thier forebears settled in the UK

[@margaretflounders8510]

My Son supports the "toffies" and he's from Ipswich, Suffolk!...

[@helenroberts1107]

I’ll never forget watching the Hillsborough disaster on tv. It was so terrible 😢❤. I’d say people think a lot less of the press than Liverpool.

[@bozzykinz]

I wish that were true. There's still people who believe what the police said at 1st to this day :(

[@danleach100]

I married a scouser, love the scouse attitude. Especially their view of The Sun newspaper :)

[@BecomeConsciousNow]

I love Liverpool. The people are boss. A very friendly and comedic group of people. The English also used propaganda against the Irish for decades. They called the Irish thick and stupid and often made jokes about their lack of intelligence. Which was obviously untrue. But when you here the same comments over and over again, people start to believe the lies.

[@mrjinks5641]

Make no mistake this is in no way reflective of the whole of Liverpool, I’m a scouser as are my whole family my farther is a season ticket holder at Anfield and all of my family and friends are proud scousers and Englishman and women, 🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@davidbrims5825]

A lot of Irish immigrants live in Liverpool, that might explain it, and also explain the weird hybrid accent.

[@nolongerlistless]

Liverpool, simultaneously capital city to Ireland and Wales 😅

[@littlemy1773]

On a side note I've spent alot of time in Liverpool. I also lived in Dublin. You can see similarities in the architecture at times to me . One thing tho scousers and Liverpool feels and felt like a far far safer and friendlier place than Dublin. Liverpool is the best ❤

[@richardevans6433]

It’s called Victorian architecture, prevalent in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland

[@Comfortzone99]

Contrary to the notion being peddled now by the Irish that the Irish potato famine was no famine but genocide by the English. England did in fact let in over half a million Irish immigrants during and after the famine and a lot of them ended up in Liverpool.

[@Lily-Bravo]

@@nolongerlistless It all makes sense to me now, that Welsh and Norwegian have played their part in the accent.

[@michaeljones3694]

Thanks for the video mate. Really well produced, and considered. You're obviously welcome anytime in Liverpool.

[@stuartlodge1959]

Born in Liverpool, proud to British

[@stuartlodge1959]

Born in Liverpool, proud to be British

[@fromthefountofyouth]

And English?

[@paulwilliamson1069]

Well done mate iam from hartlepool with Irish descent proud to be British

[@ChaseOakley-rw2lx]

4 - 0 what a result 😊 YNWA

[@pulchralutetia]

That video was boss. Wonderful city, friendly people. The other English city with a unique character is Newcastle upon Tyne.

[@brabusta]

Evertonion here!

[@pauloneill2986]

And here! You’d think there was only the one club watching this wouldn’t you? Never mind the ORIGINAL professional football club in Liverpool. COYB 💙💙💙

[@brabusta]

@ hurrah! UTFT!

[@doubledigital_]

its ok we love you to lol xD

[@suejackson1731]

l was born in London, but my Dad was a Scouser. l am so proud of the way they come together in times of tragedy. When l was younger people used to say scousers are thieves etc and l would get so angry. Not heard anyone say that in a long time. l stopped buying the sun trash paper when they wrote about Hillsboro and lets not forget little Jamie Bulger poor little soul gotta love scousers l do miss hearing that accent.

[@Jinty92]

I'm Scottish, a Glaswegian and have Irish heritage and we share an affinity with both Newcastle and Liverpool. I have never bought the sun. People thought a female Prime Minister would be empathetic but she was ruthless. She destroyed shipbuilding here and destroyed Clydeside, she destroyed the coal mining industry. Margaret Thatcher the milk Snatcher. She stopped free milk to Primary School Pupils. In the musical Billy Elliot, Sir Elton John wrote a song called *Merry Christmas Maggie Thatcher* that the miners sing during their legendary strike. It has the iconic line *It's one day closer to your death and you're a tosser, you're a tosser, and just a Tory swine*

[@gerardrimmer1601]

Lived down south since 1976 prior to this l lived in Cornwall for 2yrs , the only reason l left Liverpool was solely for work , l was born in 1950 my mammy was a blue my Da was a red , l loved Queen Elizabeth 11 l thought she was a wonderful Regent, l have voted Labour all my life until recently l have a deep mistrust of politicians especially tories, l still have family there and l love them dearly, the city has morphed over the year’s inspire of the media bias and the police brutality etc , but hat aside l still love the city and l love LFC My Father’s mother was born in Waterford in the Irish republic , of which l am very proud , my family can be traced back to 1604 in Liverpool on my father’s side Rimmer, my Irish side connection started with the great famine , hence my grandmother Kelly and her parents Goggin / Dwyers etc this is why l am a proud scouser not because of lob scouse

[@andyjames9]

Scouse and proud. Thanks for making the video and help people understand how great our city was, is, and always be.

[@AllanNinniss]

It’s great that you talk so much sense, at least you know ,you have been there, and talk so much about our country, very much appreciated.

[@StormStar626]

Thatcher is seen as strong female world leader during a time when this was unusual and no one can deny she was powerful and impressive. However the UK as whole despise her, as her reforms and policies are still being felt (and struggled through today) but we in Liverpool probably hate her the most for the reasons you just saw. To give you an idea of how the country felt about her? On the day of her death, the song “Ding Dong the Witch is Dead” from the Wizard of Oz film went to Number 1 I believe (or top 5 at least) in the UK.

[@robt2778]

But funnily enough, Liverpool was historically a Tory town because of a weird alliance between the Irish Ulster Unionists and Welsh Presbyterians who settled here; there's actually official Protestant Party in Liverpool. Protestants generally voted Tory, while Catholics generally voted Labour. In 1979 when Thatcher was elected for the first time, half the city's MPs were Tories and they had a decent number of local councillors, there was even a tea room on Allerton Road named in her honour. By 1983 as a result of her disastrous policies she'd squandered a long Tory heritage in the city which has never recovered ( they got less than 2% of the votes in the most recent local elections).

[@francisedward8713]

Agree 100%. As a Scouser, I still have some sort of odd respect for her and what she achieved in a doggy dog man's-world. The Iron Lady was respected the world over by all foreign governments and SOME (only some though) aspects of her legacy are largely positive, especially the Falklands. Of course, nuance isn't really a thing anymore - everything has to be black or white. However, the decimation of miners, and particularly financial deregulation, are things we are still seeing a lot of problems from today. And her economic legacy is EXTREMELY influential and is as alive today as it was back then. The Labour Party even largely continue with this (what we would call neoliberalism). When Blair won, she was very happy to know her legacy would be continued by someone who was supposed to be ideologically different.

[@marythurlow9132]

She deregulated everything and ruined this country. She considered the miners "the enemy within" and she is widely hated by the working class.

[@paultaylor9498]

We could do with Maggie now

[@soutiesellers2698]

I loved her: still do.

[@philjones45]

I'm from North Wales, first language Welsh and we are often accused of sounding Scouse. Lobscouse was huge here, my nain (grandmother) made it, and as a kid I always thought it was a Welsh thing. The Scouse accent also has a twang of Welsh to it. I couldn't speak English until I went to school!! You should visit North Wales.

[@FightingCoward]

I'm scouse but my Mum's first language was Welsh, she moved here just before I was born. My son calls her Nain too.

[@arwelp]

Me too - I didn’t speak English until I started school. Liverpool Education Authority had an outdoor studies centre about a mile from our village school, they had the only swimming pool in the area so we used it to learn to swim there - we used to have exchange visits with the Scouse kids, but both sides had trouble understanding each other’s accents and we had to repeat ourselves 3 or 4 times 😅. I think the Scouse accent has “softened” quite a lot in the last 50-60 years, I remember one kid telling me “Me dad’s a docha” - I eventually understood he was a docker! One of my sets of great-grandparents got married in Birkenhead on the other side of the river, and their first 3 kids were born at different addresses in Birkenhead and Tranmere, but they’d moved to the farm in the Berwyns before my taid arrived in 1890; when I was small we used to visit my “uncles” and “aunties” in Birkenhead, though on consideration they were probably my mam’s cousins - I remember one of them took me to the old Liverpool Central station when I was 5 or 6 to see the steam trains (Dr Beeching had closed all the railways round home 😢), this would have been a few years before it was demolished to make way for the present underground station and shops…

[@philjones45]

@@arwelp As a child from Angelsey, we had family who'd moved to Anfield who told tales about Birkinhead. I was scared of Birkinhead, the way it was described was dark and depressing. To this day I've never been. The mersey tunnel also scared me.

[@shauntbarry]

Rhyl is the 51st state of Liverpool!! We also use the same word.. TARA!!!

[@user-iu3rq5pl1u]

@philjones45 love north wales and it's people, I'm from Liverpool x

[@bondy6622]

av lived in Liverpool my whole life 58 years and i still do the exact as you when i see places about Liverpool i pause it and say “oh av been there” on them steps 😅or in that shop etc !! true scousers are forever proud and am glad you felt r ❤💙YNWA

[@NiallBradley-pg6ge]

Very few people in the North like Margaret Thatcher. Her statue in Grantham is regularly pelleted with tomatoes. Why tomatoes? Because acid in the fruit dissolves the bronze!

[@neilog747]

Love that

[@johnloony68]

18:54 sales of the Sun newspaper plummeted in Liverpool after that, and have never recovered since.

[@scottyrobolfc]

Top video mate, great to see you learning about our city. Even other English people dont get why we say we are Scouse and not English, you get it a lot more than most of the country. Always welcome back to Liverpool ✌️

[@walterfillingham]

Well done JPS, as a Scottish person from Inverness, I have never been to Liverpool. You have uncovered more about that city than I know living on the same island, it’s something I don’t understand myself. High time I went out to go and see the city for myself to try and understand the city.. I have worked with many people from the city on oil rigs in the North Sea, they do seem different from other English people.. usually fantastic characters..

[@michaeljones3694]

You should visit mate. I'm sure you'd be surprised, and enjoy it.

[@walterfillingham]

@@michaeljones3694I absolutely will, I’m absolutely shocked watching this video, I’m saying that as a Scotsman.. my blood absolutely boiling watching the way the city been treated

[@michaeljones3694]

@@walterfillingham I'm glad he made it. People are waking up to how nice the place is. Yes it has problems like any big city but people are often shocked how nice the nice areas of Liverpool are (my son's fiancé from Yorkshire was anyway). We get our food delivered by Morisson's and loads are southerners who have moved up here. Out of curiosity I often ask them what they've moved here. It always surprises me with the reputation the city has. They absolutely love it here. And they have much larger houses than they'd ever get down south. I tell them to keep it to themselves though, we don't want everyone moving here . 🤣

[@anthonyhowrard526]

So many great buildings. If you get chance have a look inside some and take your time.

[@johnloony68]

4:36 i like the fact that they put subtitles on

[@johngordon4825]

I love this video, I’m glad to see you react to it. I am a Hillsborough survivor too, lived through Thatchers assault on the City and the horrendous mistreatment of us Scousers by her Government. If you hear anyone saying good things about Thatcher they’re speaking because they benefited from her policies at the detriment of their fellow countrymen. Don’t expect loyalty and Patriotism from people you deride, mistreat, abuse and scapegoat.

[@waynebaker1563]

I'm glad u enjoyed our city, we hope you come back 😎👍

[@paulstanley8067]

Thank-you for giving the time to learn about the truth.❤

[@shadow-Sun]

Im a Geordie with scouse family and some Liverpool roots , I admire Liverpool and it's people for the way they stick together I always say that Liverpool is the Biggest "village" in the Uk . They act as one like they all know each other personally and to me that's what makes the place unique in the whole of the country .

[@royramse7389]

Love it❤❤❤ norwegian scouser here❤❤

[@rancidrabbitspensley3475]

nice ! half and half myself ! vi står i samma båt

[@lisasmith2660]

I love Liverpool, the people, there accent and there history. I try to visit Liverpool at least once a year for a mini break, there is so much to see and do, the people are always friendly. There is more crime in London than Liverpool

[@michaeljones3694]

London is a scary city nowadays. Sad.

[@BrianKeenan-x5o]

Thatcher owed S.Yorkshire police for breaking the miners strike at Orgreave colliery. She once said there was nothing as such as society. She didn't know the Scousers, one city one community.

[@kevinmcdermott5280]

Am a proud Scouser and always will be. Dr Frank Carlisle is a great Liverpool historian. It's through Frank I heard about how Liverpool was the epicentre of the American civil war, as he puts it, it's fascinating. Kev from Anfield.

[@kevfullo]

good man for covering this

[@judegrindvoll8467]

I’ve got to be honest, I feel like anyone living in a northern city gets a bad rep. People seem genuinely astonished when they visit Newcastle and see modern and beautiful classical architecture, beautiful coastlines, and even decent restaurants. I do think most of the prejudice stems from the ‘grim up north’ stereotype. I’ve sadly not had the pleasure of visiting Liverpool yet but I can’t wait to go. I’m a Newcastle supporter but I have a huge soft spot for Liverpool and root for them winning the Premiership every year. I’d be honoured to visit Anfield at some point 😊

[@kevindurcan7072]

Liverpool has so much historical connection with he USA it’s phenomenal,the first us embassy was in Liverpool, the last act of the American civil war was in Liverpool on the banks of the river Mersey, even soldiers from the American Civil Wars are buried in Liverpool ! ❤️JFT 97💙

[@JackieRoberts-n2e]

The Sun ‘newspaper’! My dad used to say that rag wasn’t even good enough to use in our lav when the toilet paper ran out!

[@JackieRoberts-n2e]

As a southerner I prefer the north of England myself. York and Liverpool are the friendliest and safest cities I’ve ever visited, love both regional accents the folk who live there. I need to visit Liverpool again soon..such a welcoming city and scousers are some of the most welcoming people you’ll ever meet. Feel safer there than I have done in London I have to admit

[@dianehodgkinson7113]

My 'home / birth' Accent is Mancunian with a very heavy dose of Scouse. My family moved around England a lot when I was younger, so normally I don't have a discernible accent at all; However, 10 mins on the phone to my cousin and people where I live now simply do not understand me - I think it's great! As a child whenever I got chance I went to stay with my Nana and Grandad, at 'home' - As far as I am concerned, although not a true 'Scouse' (After all I was Baptised by the Bishop of Liverpool ) ❤ I cannot believe that in this not one person in this commented on one of the most ICONIC SYMBOLS of Liverpool - The Liverbirds (Lyvabirds to non scousers!)

[@InstigatorDJ]

I was watching the game live bro. It was a crazy thing to see as a very young boy.

[@doubledigital_]

Hey jp glad you reacted to this! next time ya over this side of the pond fella ill buy u a pint Up the reds! YNWA

[@alanguyers9311]

Liverpool isnt looked down upon the way it used to be, mostly when i ask people love our city an love scousers nowadays, its truly one of the best citys in the uk

[@lordflashget8780]

Hey Joel, you will love the TV series " One summer " and " Boys from the black stuff " you will also learn a lot about who Scousers truly are.

[@Fineleg659]

As one comedian said about Scottish Independence, it would only be granted if they took Liverpool with them.

[@Louis16261]

What comedian said that? As a Scouser, I would certainly take that deal :)

[@FTFLCY]

Haha! I remember that. It was as funny as it was true.

[@eddhardy1054]

​@@Louis16261 Al Murray

[@baylessnow]

Thankyou Al Murray (pub landlord), in his video about accents.

[@Chayton_Duffy]

This is why as an American of Irish and Native descent I support Liverpool they’re hated within their own country by everyone including the gov and crown

[@lee.valley]

if you think the scouse accent is difficult to understand, wait until you meet a drunk Glasgow guy. 😂

[@littlemy1773]

And if you think Glasgow is bad , try a proper thick Aberdeen accent . They even swap letter ws for an f in some words no clue why 😂

[@FTFLCY]

@@littlemy1773 Belfast would like a word.

[@littlemy1773]

@@FTFLCY yep that too lol

[@garyrigby21]

Love Liverpool

[@RichDoes..]

Back in the 70's I used to travel to Liverpool from Blackpool to watch my team play at every opportunity, I was probably 15 when me and a pal got beaten up by a gang of Evortonians. Football hooliganism was a problem in those times, thankfully not so today.

[@lottieBlake-lg5xn]

Loved watching this as a Scouser. Honestly if you read the comments under some of the videos of the booing at football for example you will read the hate which is why it is not questioned. We are always accused of awful things and then of playing victim! I am glad you had a good time in the city and witnessed for yourself the real truth!

[@calibrax]

Most Scots don't mind being called British, because most see themselves as both Scottish and British. It's being called English that really winds them up...

[@TheLifeOfDan1]

It’s just pure ignorance if someone calls a Scot English! 😂

[@AbdurRahim-wq5dy]

Even a blind and deaf person wouldn’t call a Scotsman , English

[@stewartmackay]

Its Waring, to be honest.

[@jmillar71110]

Have to disagree as a Scot😂 if somebody called me British they'd get telt. For outsiders British and English is the same.

[@stewartmackay]

@@jmillar71110 Well thats ignorance on their part, because British and English are not the same.

[@kimarnill7648]

I’m Welsh and British not English.

[@brulaapgaapmeester8052]

I'm Dutch and European but not Indian or Chinese. I do like Welsh, especially with some deep fried bacon, but that doesn't mean I like sugared Brits.

[@johndavies2456]

​@@brulaapgaapmeester8052 Not a Booer 🤣

[@marythurlow9132]

I've always felt a resonance with Liverpool because Wales has also been treated harshly by the English establishment and looked down upon.

[@bobatwell7505]

Bully for you..

[@OldWolflad]

@@bobatwell7505 Sick of the victim mentality

[@heatherwilliams-px3um]

my mum and dad have been on holiday and don’t have the broadest of accents, they where having a lovely conversation with a couple until they asked where mum and dad was from , when they said liverpool the other couple walked away . that was just before lockdown . Sad world that we live in.

[@michaeljones3694]

Unbelievable, but I can believe it.

[@MsZepfreak]

My city, my home, my heart ❤️

[@JonnyPyscho]

I’m a scouser from Dingle who loves England and the English people.

[@YNWA-7]

Lived in Liverpool 14 years now and it is definitely better than London where I grew up. The people in Liverpool are more friendly but they’re kindness should never be mistaken for weakness.

[@Lily-Bravo]

I am from the South and I have never been aware of Liverpudlians being looked down on, not even by their accents. We had the Beatles for goodness sake, and there was a comedy called The Liver Birds as well in the Sixties. I saw it as the source of great music, style and humour. It was famous for being a port. As they say a port is a melting pot of nationalities, my town was a port as well, and a place where people are happy to look outward towards other lands. I hope it still is.

[@ds.3577]

It wasnt the English people margret thatcher left us to rot not just Liverpool either all of the north west/east.

[@perpetualidiocy6622]

worlds first passenger railway was the Stockton and Darlington railway ( Stevenson's Locomotion). Liverpool to Manchester railway (Stevenson's Rocket) just like to try and claim being 1st. it's B.S though. a quick search will attest to that

[@georgeamery]

Surely each state is very different but you are all Americans,all vote for Donald and carry the US passport. We in Britain are much the same. By the way God save the King/Queen is the British national anthem not the English one. England doesnt have an official anthem. Scouse is a nickname for Liverpool people.

[@cat_glove]

Its probably the best place to go to University in the UK, amazing place. Well done for showcasing this to your audience JP.

[@michaeledwards5168]

Think it was the 1965 fa cup final when the Liverpool team sang God save out or gracious team , as a joke , I believe .

[@Morgana0x]

Liverpool being a port has had over it's many years a lot of immigration from all over the world. I'm from Liverpool and I have Chinese, Arab and English ancestry. I think all the different nationalities and races are what makes Liverpool unique, and is why we have such a distinct accent.

[@benfisher1376]

But London, Manchester, Birmingham etc are similar and there's not the same separatism in those cities

[@MickyMouser]

@@benfisher1376similar but not the same