In “Let it Bleed” Rebus is talking in the North British, Edinburgh, with a US diplomat, Haldayne. Haldayne tells Rebus re something Rebus has just said; “That's hardly fair, is it? Hardly British." To which Rebus replies: "You're not in Britain now, Mr. Haldayne.” Is Rebus technically correct? Is Scotland not ranked part of Britain?

Ian Rankin Rebus is being a bit cheeky here but is also pointing out that Britain is often lazily used to equate to England and things in Scotland are done quite differently to England. Legal system, education system both very different. So it’s a reminder not to judge Scotland by perceived ideas of Britishness/Englishness.

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