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.
Author: English Commonwealth
English Commonwealth is a web-based campaign that seeks to promote England as a discrete nation and source of political identity and citizenship in its own right.
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
Louise Haigh is at it again
We asked previously 'Why won’t Louise Haigh use the word ‘England’?'Here she is again refusing to say England, informing us that the National Transport Strategy (which applies to England alone - though she doesn't mention that) will 'get Britain moving'.Why would you say Britain when it only applies to England? Why Louise, why? What is … Continue reading Louise Haigh is at it again
Devolution has strengthened the Union
Has devolution strengthened the Union? This is what the politicians responsible for it said. The question is: is the UK stronger as a result of devolution or not? I think it is stronger, because people in Scotland say: 'Oh we have our parliament now, that is a fair settlement.' You will get the Tories and … Continue reading Devolution has strengthened the Union
English Commonwealth 