The UK Covid-19 Inquiry found that UK Government announcements frequently failed to clarify whether lockdown rules and health measures applied across all four nations or were restricted to England alone. This lack of geographic clarity caused widespread public confusion throughout the pandemic. The UK Covid Inquiry had a section on Clarity of Geographic Scope in … Continue reading Clarity of geographic scope in messaging
Andy Burnham, King in the North
He's running! Or at least jogging. So perhaps we should remind ourselves of Andy Burnham's views on England. https://youtu.be/OTjgz6Dr8Ns?si=B74VG3t9qU013UUL One of Burnham's arguments against an English parliament is that his heritage isn't 100% English. Seriously! No I wouldn't have an English parliament. I'm born in Liverpool of Irish ancestry, Scottish links in the past, and … Continue reading Andy Burnham, King in the North
England, the Stateless Nation.
A great bit of writing from Elliot Bulmer explaining the annual St George's Day doom loop of agonising over English national identity. Like Kashmiris, Kurds and Uyghurs, the English must debate the nature of their existence because England is – to borrow the term used by Austrian Chancellor Metternich to refer to pre-unification Italy – … Continue reading England, the Stateless Nation.
Mayors from across ‘the country’
On the 12th Dec Rachel Reeves headed up to Darlington to meet with regional mayors to talk about their plans to make every part of Britain better off, and to visit Darlington Economic Campus (DEC) which was hosting the first Growth Mission Board to be held outside London.The people in this photo are not from … Continue reading Mayors from across ‘the country’
Why can’t the English realise?
European Movement UK recently did a webinar featuring Caroline Lucas and John Denham on the Role of National Identity in the Journey Back to Europe. It's well worth a watch.In the Q&As there's a quite extraordinary question from a listener: Why can't the English realise that their national / regional identity is far more protected … Continue reading Why can’t the English realise?
Reform UK: Another British Nationalist Party
With Reform UK predicted to win up to a dozen seats in the 2026 Holyrood election, Alex Massie has said "We can no longer claim that Reform is an English nationalist project."Why would you have claimed that anyway, Alex? What is it about Reform that makes them English nationalist? Do you know how many times … Continue reading Reform UK: Another British Nationalist Party
Today “regional” is merely code for central direction
Over the past few days there's been a dawning realisation that Labour's plans for English devolution might be an attack on local democracy. The Times warned us that ministers are drawing up plans to promise more powers for England's county councils in exchange for the abolition of district councils. According to the Times, district councils … Continue reading Today “regional” is merely code for central direction
Why is Lisa Nandy unable to say England?
Dear DCMS, I am writing to ask why your press release on the National Youth Strategy doesn't mention which nation the 'National' in 'National Youth Strategy' refers to. There are four uses of the phrase 'across the country'. Which country? Does it have a name? Lisa Nandy's statement to the House on the National Youth … Continue reading Why is Lisa Nandy unable to say England?
What about England?
Writing in the pages of New Statesman, democracy campaigner and all round good-egg Anthony Barnett has asked its readers 'what about my country?'. Barnett speaks as an Englishman who wants to challenge the English-born liberal or progressive readers of the New Statesman who 'almost certainly don’t "feel English"'? This inability to identify with their own nation, despite … Continue reading What about England?
The Conspiracy of Silence and how the Tories screwed England
The Conservative Party spent many years telling those of us who wanted an English parliament that an English parliament was not required because English Votes on English Laws (EVEL) was the answer. Any time we raised the issue of England's lack of representation or the West Lothian Question we were informed that EVEL was the … Continue reading The Conspiracy of Silence and how the Tories screwed England
English Commonwealth 