THE first day of summer and I’m watching the rain forming rivers down the window and bouncing in the puddles.

The good old British summer. It started me thinking what it means to be British – I can never work out whether I’m proud or ashamed.

I’m certainly proud at the public and political outpouring of tributes being paid to the late Jo Cox MP, after she was attacked and killed in her constituency.

She embodied all that is best in public service: integrity, honesty, passion and commitment to justice, to those who are disadvantaged, to creating a better society for everyone. The antithesis of a career politician, she was a career humanitarian in politics with a determination not to make a name for herself, but the world a better place.

I am proud to live in a country where our politicians are in touch with everyday life and accessible to their constituents; accountable not just at election time, but in the daily round. The direct link between our elected MPs and the people they serve is one that is the envy of the world.

But I’m ashamed that in the same week that Mrs Cox gave her life for all that is best in politics, we continue to be assailed by all that is worst. The Brexit campaign has degenerated into the politics of fear and barely-disguised xenophobia – with migrants and the EU being scapegoated for low wages, inadequate schools and poor healthcare.

I’m proud that once again our footballers managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat – so much more inspiring than leading from the front! But I’m ashamed by our country’s football reputation off the pitch and our export of alcohol-fuelled Saturday night tribalism.

I’m proud to live in a country where the Dick Whittington ‘rags to riches’ story leaps off the pantomime stage in the form of the son of a Pakistani London bus driver, who has become Mayor of one of the greatest cities in the world.

At the same time, I’m ashamed to live in a country which remains a bastion of class and social divide. A third of all MPs went to private schools and nearly half of Tory ones, compared with just seven per cent of the population as a whole.

The judiciary, the military, the civil service, media organisations, opinion formers and decision makers alike are dominated by the small minority of the population whose parents were privileged enough to buy them private education.

And finally, I’m proud that I can write this without worrying about a midnight knock on the door. Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights provides us all with the right to freedom of expression.

You are free to agree or disagree with my personal views and comment ad lib.

Thank goodness we live in a country with freedom to do just that.