|
More and more it seems that the English are finding their voice and the issue of English cultural identity is coming to the fore. As England finally awakes more and more commentators are writing on the issue. Below we reproduce an article originally publish in the Telegraph, written by Philip Johnston. During a relatively brief radio interview at the weekend, Nicola Sturgeon, the SNP deputy leader, used the phrase "the people of Scotland" at least a dozen times. You don't have to listen for long to a US politician, from the president downwards, before you hear the words "the American people" uttered. Yet can you imagine a mainstream political discussion here in which the "people of England" are routinely invoked? While others proudly assert their nationhood, Englishness is the identity that hardly dares to speak its name. As Richard Wyn Jones, professor of politics at Cardiff University and author of a report on Englishness to be published by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), said yesterday: "The British political class is very uncomfortable in dealing with England as England." However, this reticence is no longer sustainable in view of the debate about Scottish independence and the prospect of a break-up of the United Kingdom. As a couple of polls have shown recently, resentment is growing rapidly in England over what is perceived to be the special treatment of Scotland. In particular, the so‑called West Lothian Question has started to make itself felt, with more than 50 per cent of English voters of the view that Scottish MPs should not be allowed to vote in the Commons on laws that affect only England. This week, the Government is due to announce the membership of a constitutional commission to see how this anomaly can be addressed. In some ways, it feels a bit like a sideshow to the main event, the debate over the future of the Union. But since this process will either fracture the UK or, more likely, see Scotland remain within the structure but with enhanced powers, it cannot be ducked any longer. It was in 1977, during the devolution debates in the Commons, that Tam Dalyell, the Labour MP for West Lothian, asked: "For how long will English constituencies and English honourable members tolerate honourable members from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland exercising an important, and probably often decisive, effect on British politics, while they have no say in the same matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?" Enoch Powell, in the same debate, gave Mr Dalyell's puzzle the status it now enjoys: "We have finally grasped what the Honourable Member for West Lothian is getting at," he said. "Let us call it the West Lothian Question." To call something a "question" conjured up those great issues that once preoccupied parliamentarians, like Schleswig-Holstein or, more pertinently, the Irish Question. But this was never really the West Lothian Question – it is the English Question. How does England fit into the post-devolutionary settlement? This has been ignored, largely because the English have not indulged in an all‑consuming narrative about national identity as the Scots have done. Symbolism is important. Next week, for instance, the rituals of Burns Night will keep the nationalist flames alight. But where is the English equivalent, a Shakespeare feast of Lancashire hotpot or shepherd's pie, followed by readings from the works of the Bard and accompanied by pints of bitter and glasses of mead? On March 1, St David's Day, the Welsh will happily sport a daffodil, but if an Englishman turned up at work on April 23 wearing a red rose in his lapel it would be assumed he was on his way to a wedding, not celebrating his national day. The English, by dint of their nation's long history and its disproportionate size within the Union, have never felt it necessary to expend much, or any, political energy on matters of identity. Yet this has meant that many of its people have become estranged from the history, literature and symbols that are quintessentially English, as opposed to British. A poll in this newspaper several years ago found that a quarter did not know the date of St George's Day, even when it was included in a list of options. Moreover, while the Scots and the Welsh have never had any compunction about parading their nationalities while abroad, a significant proportion of people from England tended to describe themselves as British. But this is changing (and I write this as an Ulsterman brought up in England for whom the only available national identity is British). More than 10 years after devolution, the IPPR report detects a fundamental shift in English attitudes and a politicisation of English identity that spreads far beyond fringe nationalist groups. How will this manifest itself in our institutions? Even if Scotland does not split away, pressure for an English parliament within a loose federation of four constituent states will become harder to resist. At the very least, a new system of debating English-only laws will have to be introduced, something that has so far been resisted for fear of stoking up anti-Union feeling in Scotland. That genie is now out of the bottle. The other option, that of regional devolution – a sort of balkanisation of England – was tried by Labour and shot down in the North-East referendum. The irony is that devolution was supposed to halt the march to separatism. When he was prime minister, Gordon Brown sought to promote Britishness as a concept, in the expectation that it would bring the peoples of the United Kingdom together. Instead, there has been a resurgence of national identities. A new English iconography is developing, with the cross of St George – which became associated with the working-class populism of the far Right – much more in evidence. The heightened debate about Scotland's future means that the time is coming for the people of England to have a say in their future as a nation. As Chesterton said, they have not spoken yet.
 Comments (13)Subscribe to this comment's feedShow/hide comments Edwin99
About time "ENGLISH" people started waking up, I woke up about 40years ago when in the Film "Summer Holiday" they started promoting European desternations as a "THE" only Holiday places,all well and good, but like everthing else the powers that be seem to brainwash and make you feel awkward about Holidaying in your own Country "England" The good think about the film they talked about England and English people, so what happened in the last forty years is no more than "Anglophobia" in-Equality and Discrimination about "WE ENGLISH" and ENGLAND.
,
January 18, 2012
passports
i would like to know why,the Irish, Scottish and Welsh can state so on passports,but I as an English man,cannot,everytime i put it on,the customs would cross it through and put british,which i was not born as,i was born English,a case of inequality me thinks
,
January 18, 2012
Fine Line
I am starting to think more like the Americans. I truly believe when a person comes into this country, whether they've acheived UK Citizenship or not, if they commit a crime here they should be kicked out of the country just like the Yanks do, and if they have a criminal record they shouldn't be allowed in.I don't want to be part of Europe, I would rather trade with the U.S,Canada,Australia,India and the West Indies.The Europeans have caused us nthing but trouble. All this said,I am not a racist,I have a lot of Black mates, many of whom agree with my point of view and celebrate St George's Day, I have had friends from India and Pakistan and want no part in racism directed at them, no repatriation or EDL/BNP etc. From asap we need to tighten up our immigration laws, mostly towards Europeans.I am a HGV 1 Driver and we are being killed by European bs laws designed to help European haulage and kill ours.Most people don't know that our drivers can't enter Europe with more than a 1/4 tank of diesel but they come to the UK with full tanks of much cheaper European diesel and fill up over there before coing back here !!!! As Paul Weller said, "Wake Up The Nation".
,
January 18, 2012
...
I first heard that quote from G K Chesterton 30 years ago and have been waiting for things to happen ever since but the English just seemed to mutter amongst themselves and keep silent to the people keeping them down. What would have Chesterton, who died in 1936, thought of what has happened to England since the War?
I never knew the full text of the poem it came from so have looked it up on the internet. It is more inspiring than I imagined, a call to arms from a true Yorkshireman (most Yorkshiremen find it hard to stay silent on such matters). Here is the final verse, it is quite prophetic really: We hear men speaking for us of new laws strong and sweet, Yet is there no man speaketh as we speak in the street. It may be we shall rise the last as Frenchmen rose the first, Our wrath come after Russia's wrath and our wrath be the worst. It may be we are meant to mark with our riot and our rest God's scorn for all men governing. It may be beer is best. But we are the people of England; and we have not spoken yet. Smile at us, pay us, pass us. But do not quite forget. G.K. CHESTERTON Perhaps our leaders are aware of the contents of these verses and this is why they are so terrified of the "violent" English and the time when they finally rise as one. Of course the English did rise before the French when faced, as the French were later, with an absolute monarch. Democracy has been crumbling here for the last 40 years at least. Who is our absolute monarch now? Is it Mijnheer van Rumpoy or do with have a triumvirite of Cameron, Clegg and Milliband?
,
January 18, 2012
Mr.
It is indeed high time that the English people reasserted its status as a sovereign nation, not as a direct consequence of the resurgence of welsh and scottish nationality, but as a statement of fact, borne out by centuries of growth and evolution of the English culture to the present day.
In recent times it has become unacceptable to some factions of society to use the word 'English' as a generic term, and by the use of the 'politically correct' agenda have dumbed down any dissent to their blinkered and lopsided view of what should and should not form part of our nationality. Because of this, and the inherently English trait of avoiding direct confrontation, our ability to declare our sense of belonging to the English people, to celebrate our history, our culture and our values has been severely eroded. It is now time to get rid of apathy and reassert our national identity, and to show our true allegiances not only to the Queen and country, but also to the rest of the world. If the Scots wish to be Scottish, and the Welsh wish to be Welsh, then fine;we however are English, and that is the way we want to be known. JB.
,
January 18, 2012
So why did we break away then
Saints are a catholic invention. The Protestant church left those behind how could we rewrite over 500 years of history just so we can have another bank holiday?
,
January 18, 2012
The English Identiy
I am a welsh woman, with an English Grandmother, husband and five children. I moved to England when I married. I love England and the people, I have been here so long now I feel I am English and proud to say it.
I agree with the article, The government does treat the English different from the rest of Britain. We should have a bank holiday for St. George's day, and maybe our own parliment, or get all the welsh, irish and scotish Mps out of our government. it is sad this is happening because we are stronger together, remember together we stand divided we fall. I agree that the English are losing their identity, with all the people from other countries living here and being treated far better than us, it seems their religion and beliefs are put first. Come on lets all stand together and fight for the right of the English to be TREATED EQUALLY with the rest of Britain.
,
January 19, 2012
Come the Revalution
Philip Johnston of the Telegraph has it right, I would like to echo his remark “if an Englishman turned up at work on April 23 wearing a red rose in his lapel it would be assumed he was on his way to a wedding.”
As an Ex member of H.M.F. (Army) It is my belief that only the armed forces of England uphold this tradition with a large portion of the civilian population knot knowing who St George is. This has to be down to the Government past and present. What do you think?. I have seen first hand after joining the ranks as a civilian. The amount of work mates and friends who did not know the date of our Patron Saint of England, and the same people taking holidays to celebrating Burns and Patrick's Day. HELLO!!
,
January 19, 2012
The E word
ENGLAND
There I've said it so now I guess I'm a bloody racist, declared so by the professional criminals (politicians) running our so called fair society in this green and not so pleasant open prison ENGLAND. Alas why the surprise ? have they not yet put that sign on Dover docks declaring our homeland HMP BRITAIN. I'm still a little confused about the situation today, THE BIG SOCIETY well he got that bit right if nothing else; lets face it anyone in the world can come here and stay no matter even if they carry our death warrant with them, just so long as the THIEF-O-CRATS in Europe declare it. I wouldn't care so much but the only mandate I ever signed up to was a trade agreement and not the UNITED STATES OF EUROPE. You know the one the yanks started funding in the 1940's; mind you that lovely Mr. Ford was funding Hitler so I guess there's not much changing with the septic tanks then, still the worlds biggest terrorists. I believe I should be able to go any place on the planet so it goes without saying others should be allowed to come here but you know what? HEY EUROCRATS AN BRITITISH POLITICAL T-A-TS I'M ENGLISH AN PROUD OF IT. Foreigners well that's easy to sort, firstly you're only a foreigner until you get back home and then it's all them others that are foreign, second and most important if you don't like ENGLAND it's rules or it's people then don't come here or get out if you did, an don't worry it's a big cool wide world out there us ENGLISH folk know it BECAUSE WE FUND MOST OF IT HA EUREKA that's what he means you lot pay taxes an I'll give them to the rest of the world !
,
January 21, 2012
Democracy. But not if your English
Westminister has been called the "mother of all Parliments". Its held as the model of democracy and freedom; a shining beacon that all nations should aspire to emulate! Not if your English though. If your English you have no voice. If your English you have no rights. If your English you are least. If you are English and you work you are last! Democracy is witheld from the English. Democracy is what the English supply to others at the cost of our own freedom, our own identity, our own culture. Freedom is a luxury our politically inept leaders talk much about whilst denying it to the English nation. Im not free to say I dont want mass immigration. Im not free to say I want no more mosques built. Im not free to say to say no to backward muslim ways and attitudes. Im not free to say I dont want my children attending schools where they are the racial minority. Democracy? No such thing if your English, white and a Christian!
,
February 12, 2012
Which England?
@Kevin Clement: "ENGLAND, LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT.
DO I NEED TO SAY ANYMORE????????? " Yes, you do. Which England are you talking about? The England of toffs and public schoolboys? The England of the suburban middle classes? The England of monoethnic rural villages? The England of White Van Man? If that were the only England around then I'd leave it toot sweet (oops) despite having lived here most of my long life. That certainly appears to be the England that the EDP subscribes to. There is another England, though, as represented by progressive radicals such as Billy Bragg and Darcus Howe. A multi-ethnic England that's inclusive, that looks forwards not backwards to a long-gone imperialist paradise, that follows from the proud English tradition of revolt and radical thinking going back through the Tolpuddle Martyrs to the Levellers to Wat Tyler. A secular, republican England where we don't give automatic obeisance to the inbred descendants of German robber barons, but build a democracy from the people, sticking two fingers up to the ruling classes. That's an England which is a reality in many cities, and that's an England I'd be proud to be part of, and unlike you I wouldn't tell dissenters to leave it. So, which England are you part of, O Kevin?
,
February 19, 2012
...
All i ask is that we as the English are allowed to be exactly that. i work on the railway and so many times i've had to correct an American of other nationality after they called British. i've never been British, i was born, i live, and i will die a proud Englishman. now give me and my brothers and sisters our say, as everyone else is entitled theirs.
,
March 16, 2012
Write comment |
|
The English are Finding Their Voice
Written by Administrator
|
