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Glossary: The English Question
In the island of Britain today there are three governments representing three constitutional and political bodies. There is the Scottish Parliament, there is the Welsh Assembly, there is the United Kingdom Parliament. They represent Scotland, Wales and the United Kingdom Constitutionally and politically just those three exist. Constitutionally and politically England does not exist. That…
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Is English nationalism a far-right concern?
The claim that the Right or far-right have ownership of England’s symbols, the English narrative or English nationalism is an oft-heard trope. The far-right has not taken ownership of these things, it is the left and centre that has abandoned them. The difference between English nationalism and British nationalism does not lie in how attractive…
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Rebuilding England: the case for an English manifesto
Have you ever wondered why no politician talks about rebuilding England? Why, when their housebuilding policies apply only to England, is it framed as ‘Rebuilding Britain’? Why are commitments to build English new towns, ripping up England’s planning laws and building on English grey belt framed as fulfilling the priorities of ‘the British people’? How…
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Why won’t Louise Haigh use the word ‘England’?
Can you imagine the minister responsible for potholes and buses in Scotland talking about Britain rather than Scotland? Can you imagine the minister responsible for those matters in Wales refusing to use the word ‘Wales’ and referring only to ‘the country’? No, of course not. Why do we in England have to put up with…
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Labour must keep its promise to consult on the future of the House of Lords
In an open letter to the Guardian last month, a group of democracy campaigners called on the government to announce a timeline for public consultation over House of Lords reform. We’re calling on the government to deliver on its manifesto promise of a proper consultation on the future of the Lords, including via a representative citizens’ assembly,…
English Commonwealth 