2006 and All That

Intended as a guide for prospective citizens on all matters of British culture and history a new Government booklet "Life in the United Kingdom: a Journey to Citizenship," has faced a barrage of derision from historians on account of its litany of historical errors and glaring misquotes.
According to the guide Winston Churchill thanked the heroes of the Battle of Britain with the words: "Never in the course of human conflict have so many owed so much to so few" and not "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few" as we were previously led to believe
We are also told that Great Britain includes Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man (This is actually the United Kingdom), Charles II was recalled from exile in France (Holland, actually) and Queen Mary "came to the throne with Spanish support” (err while she may have married the king of Spain her supporters were most definitely English).
Professor Sir Bernard Crick, who wrote the history section, defended his work: "There are errors in it because it was done fairly quickly because we didn't want to keep immigrants waiting for their citizenship.”
I know this is hardly an earth shattering story but there is no excuse for such a slipshod approach to historical fact.Perhaps it would have been better if every prospective citizen was provided with a copy of 1066 and All That. At least they would have had a few laughs while learning bad history!

Life in the United Kingdom: a Journey to Citizenship is available from the Stationery Office for £9.99. 1066 and All That is rather cheaper.

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