While we wait for the results of the 2014 Election to the European Parliament to be declared, I hope that as many individuals as possible will reflect upon and differentiate between their national identity and their British citizenship.
Britain is not a nation but a state comprising three nations: England, Scotland and Wales. The British Establishment confuses this matter by persistently using misleading terms such as ‘British Nationality’ and the ‘National Anthem’ when, in reality, respectively they are British Citizenship and the [Head of] State Anthem. [National anthems tend to be about territory (eg ‘Flower of SCOTLAND’ and ‘LAND of my fathers’ or ‘Canada O Canada’) rather than about a person.]
Many (most?) Scots and Welsh are clear about THEIR national identity. Only in England is there widespread confusion. Worse, there are carefully contrived obstacles to people in England realising and exhibiting English identity. Long established British institutions and organisations have Scottish and Welsh or Northern Irish components, but no English equivalents; English identity is non-existent. The BBC is a case in point with BBC Scotland, BBC Wales and BBC Northern Ireland. [Simply Google ‘BBC England’ and, unlike the results for ‘BBC Scotland’, ‘BBC Wales’ and ‘BBC Northern Ireland’, the result will ‘BBC English Regions’; no national channel for the 84% of the BBC’s audience in England!]
Whilst the main political parties (and British TUC) have Scottish and Welsh sections, none of them have an English section. Consequently, Scots and Welsh are able to promote THEIR particular national interests whilst there is no equivalent mechanism to safeguard England’s interests. This significant imbalance is replicated in the Commons itself with detrimental consequences for England and her people.
Another obstacle to recognising English identity is to be found in the so called ‘ethnic monitoring’ which has widespread use throughout England. This was introduced by the Scots dominated British Government for the 2001 Census with the approval of the then Commission for Racial Equality. In England there was no separate provision for English ethnic identity, whilst in Scotland there was separate provision for Scottish ethnic identity, but only in the ‘White’ category. [Unlike Scots, the English are inclusive but are being thwarted by non-English arrangements!] It is by such means plus others that the British political establishment has contrived to diminish English identity with the aim of eventually destroying England as a national entity, ‘regionalising’ her and fragmenting her in the process.
The English Democrats believe that the national government of England should be effected by those who have her best interests at heart: the English. The English Democrats believe that a national English Parliament should determine how her local government is organised. We oppose the unrepresentative British Parliament (overwhelmingly filled with MPs who represent other interests) meddling in England’s affairs!
Whatever the outcome of the current EU elections, the English Democrats must continue with their cause. Remember: When the going gets tough, the tough get going!
Well said Alan.
John.