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’
Category: Say England
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?
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
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 … Continue reading Rebuilding England: the case for an English manifesto
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 politicians that won't say England?
Secretary of State for England
An announcement from the new Secretary of State for England: Sadly, this is not real. It's a work of fiction based on a blog post from Jim Murphy upon his appointment as Secretary of State for Scotland. It's almost impossible to imagine a politician talking about England in the terms Murphy does about Scotland, but it shouldn't … Continue reading Secretary of State for England
The Labour Party has flag problem
Labour Party activists in England have complained about the Union Flags plastered all over the party literature that is being distributed prior to the English local and mayoral election on 2nd May. They worry that British and Minority Ethnic (BAME) voters might associate it with the far right. Some commentators, however, took to Twitter to point out … Continue reading The Labour Party has flag problem
Segmented Branding and the Negation of England
As previously noted, the Labour Party has a flag problem, with some Labour MPs rejecting the party's campaign material because it is plastered with Union flags. In light of some of the comments this story has generated, I wanted to say a bit more on this. One MP 'queried why the party could not use “segmented branding” … Continue reading Segmented Branding and the Negation of England
Toxic English nationalism
The National reports some interesting comments from Stephen Reicher regarding English nationalism. I think there is little doubt there are toxic nationalisms in the UK, but it is more English nationalism than Scottish nationalism that is the problem. I think it is quite telling for instance, that in the campaigns during Covid you could use … Continue reading Toxic English nationalism
English Commonwealth 