Are the representation of Britain given by Cameron and Grant recognisably true and for what audience are they intended? In addition, do you think Cameron was aware of the similarity of his speech to the one in Love Actually

and if so, what purpose did he have in coping or referencing the 2003 film?

Hugh Grant’s speech may not be as important as David Cameron’s Small Island speech in terms of politics but when it comes to analysing and looking into aspects that are potentially important in understanding Britishness and who we are and what should be proud of, it is quite important to read.

Hugh Grant’s speech in Love actually was aimed at the President of the US, played by Billy Bob Thornton whose personality is thought to convey the worst characteristics of President Bush and President Clinton. Grants reveals the truth in Britain’s relationship with America, simply as a ‘bad relationship’. It is clear that on the release of this film there may have been some political outburst from Americans protecting their country from the term ‘bully’ as used by Hugh Grant playing the British Prime Minister. Hugh Grant goes on to talk about the many ways to why Britain is a ‘great country’. He states some of the things that Britain is known or responsible for such as famous literature and celebrities, most importantly Winston Churchill. The mentioning of Churchill’s name is very significant in the speech as Winston Churchill had a very close relationship with Franklin Roosevelt, the US President during the 1940’s and therefore America. Another one of the things that stands out in Grants speech is the use of humour about an odd but true British value, David Beckham’s feet. David Beckham is known and praised worldwide for his skills in football. Obviously this can be used to evaluate the greatness of Britain.

David Cameron’s G20 Summit speech expresses quite a bit of British historical egoism even though it is a more recent speech but also many of the things that gives Britain attention today. For example the invention of ‘the industrial revolution, television, world wide web’, reminding people that Britishness is a part of their lives whoever they are. Similar to the synopsis in Love Actually, David Cameron’s spoke in response to the Russian president’s comment about Britain being ‘just a small island no one pays any attention to’. He talks about the events that had in some ways changed the world including the ‘abolishment of slavery’ or ‘clearing the continental fascism’. Although the detail behind these events has been ignored; details such as the fact that British slave traders had shipped more Africans across the seas than any other nation. Something that relates Cameron and Grants speech widely is the dry humour when talking about British celebrities. One of Cameron’s strange examples of how easily Britain has ‘conquered the world’ was One Direction. There’s no denying that this band have become insanely globally successful, which is why it makes Cameron’s speech absurd yet genius. In Cameron’s extended speech, he talks about the fact that Britain is ‘not just one island but collection of islands’ that make up Britain; he explains that he doesn’t want anyone to be ‘left out in this’. This part of the speech is important to talk about as it simply corrects Putin’s comment about ‘just a small island’ to a united collection of islands.

The speeches from Hugh Grant and David Cameron are oddly similar and Cameron has been accused by the media and news articles of having a ‘Love Actually moment’. Besides, it is highly unlikely that Prime Minister David Cameron was completely unaware of the scene in Love Actually as the film and that scene in particular was such a successful that even Tony Blair had commented saying “there's a bit of us that would like me to do a Hugh Grant in Love Actually and tell America where to get off. But the difference between a good film and real life is that in real life there's the next day, the next year, the next lifetime to contemplate the ruinous consequences of easy applause” – (Quoted from the BBC website - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4287370.stm). However, Cameron’s patriotic speech well suited what the Russian President, Putin had said. The only obvious reference by Cameron that can be traced to the Love Actually scene is the mentioning of ‘The Beatles’, but this may have been purely because the rock band were and still are known worldwide and remain one of the most influential British groups who had existed.

Both speeches were used as a ‘come back’ to countries who thought little of Britain, which is why the Prime Ministers speech was a sensible approach even if it was copied. If for any reason Cameron had copied the structure of Grants, it would be because the situation David Cameron was put in resembled the story behind the Love Actually scene. Both Cameron and Grant used British values as a defence mechanism to the negative comments made by

Russia and the character representing America. Looking at the outcome of either speech, the leaders chosen to represent Britain are seen to possess certain behavioural characteristics such as confidence, educated, and certainly a sense of humour. These characteristics can be generalised to the entire country by those who initially depreciated Britain.

The speech transcripts

Cameron Grant Something I believe very deeply is that yes, we are a small island. In fact a small group of islands.'But I would challenge anyone to come up with a country with a prouder history, with a bigger heart, a greater resilience.'This is a country cleared a European continent of fascism, that took slavery off the high seas.We’re a country that invented many of the things that are most worthwhile, everything from the industrial revolution and television, the world wide web.'Our music delights and amuses millions, The Beatles, Elgar and slightly less er... congruously, One Direction have conquered the world.'We have invested most of the sports that the one world most likes playing.'If I go on too long about our literature, our art, our philosophy, our contribution including of course the world’s language.'

Britain is an island that helped to abolish slavery, that has invented most

of the things worth inventing, including every sport currently played around

the world, that still today is responsible for art, literature and music that

delights the entire world. We are very proud of everything we do as a

small island - a small island that has the sixth-largest economy, the fourth

best-funded military, some of the most effective diplomats, the proudest

history, one of the best records for art and literature and contribution to

philosophy and world civilisation. For the people who live in Northern

Ireland, I should say we are not just an island, we are a collection of

islands. I don't want anyone in Shetland or Orkney to feel left out by this.

I'm thinking of setting this to music...

I fear that this has become a bad relationship. A relationship based on the President taking exactly what he wants and casually ignoring all those things that really matter to, erm... Britain. We may be a small country but we're a great one, too. The country of Shakespeare, Churchill, the Beatles, Sean Connery, Harry Potter. David Beckham's right foot. David Beckham's left foot, come to that. And a friend who bullies us is no longer a friend. And since bullies only respond to strength, from now onward, I will be prepared to be much stronger. And the President should be prepared for that.