ARE YOU ENGLISH OR BRITISH?
Asks Brian Simpson,North West Region Labour MEP in a recent edition of the Labour magazine “Egremont Today”
“I don’t know about you, but I am getting a bit fed up with those who keep telling me we need to have an extra public holiday centred around St George’s Day. Don’t get me wrong, I am all for an extra public holiday, but I am afraid I do not consider myself English. I consider myself British and I believe the extra public holiday should be on a day that is close to all of us British people, not one of its regional parts.
So, I find myself in agreement with George Galloway MP, when he says Battle of Britain Day in September would be the ideal candidate. It is an important date in our history and September can still offer some reasonable weather on which to have a public holiday. Unfortunately English nationalism is on the rise and although 56% of the population still favour being in the UK, 34% believes we should separate into 4 different countries, which I believe would be a disaster. Fuelled by Margaret Thatcher who did her level best to destroy all three of them. For the Welsh, Scottish and Irish, a national identity exists, but what identity exists in England?
I feel as a born and bred Lancastrian, that I have more in common with the Scots and Welsh than I do with Southern England. For me, the English Parliament would be an object disaster for the North of England, as it would be dominated by London and the South East and we would be treated like second-class citizens. No, keep the England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for the sports field; but in the world that really matters, let’s stick to the United Kingdom and end all of this nationalism nonsense. I am proud to be British, so let’s have a public holiday on a day relevant to Britain. What do you think?”
Brian Simpson’s email is:- Briansimpson.Labour@virgin.net
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1 comment:
Brian,
My short answer is: I am English, not British.
My long answer is:
“I don’t know about you, but I am getting a bit fed up with those who keep telling me we need to have an extra public holiday centred around St George’s Day. Don’t get me wrong, I am all for an extra public holiday, but I am afraid I do not consider myself English. I consider myself British and I believe the extra public holiday should be on a day that is close to all of us British people, not one of its regional parts."
Fine words, but the Scottish, Welsh and Irish reject this. They consider themselves to be Scottish, Welsh and Irish. So your "Britishness" is solely for English consumption.
"So, I find myself in agreement with George Galloway MP, when he says Battle of Britain Day in September would be the ideal candidate. It is an important date in our history and September can still offer some reasonable weather on which to have a public holiday."
The new public holiday is a minor issue. The main issue is that the British government promotes Scottish, Welsh and Irish nationalism whilst suppressing English nationalism. This is blatant discrimination along ethnic lines.
"Unfortunately English nationalism is on the rise and although 56% of the population still favour being in the UK , 34% believes we should separate into 4 different countries, which I believe would be a disaster. Fuelled by Margaret Thatcher who did her level best to destroy all three of them."
English nationalism is on the rise precisely because of people like you - English MP's and MEP's who support policies that promote minorities at the expense of the English majority. Your reference to Margaret Thatcher shows that you are motivated by partisan political prejudices rather than considerations of fairness and justice.
"For the Welsh, Scottish and Irish, a national identity exists, but what identity exists in England?"
Exactly the same sense of national identity that exists in Scotland, Wales and Ireland - it's just that people like you have been systematically suppressing and denying it for so long that the present rise in English nationalism is the result. Or are you too stupid to see that?
"I feel as a born and bred Lancastrian, that I have more in common with the Scots and Welsh than I do with Southern England. "
That's because you're a dogmatic politician who puts party before country. The North traditionally votes Labour, along with the Scottish and Welsh. So you're suppressing English national identity for reasons of political expediency.
"For me, the English Parliament would be an object disaster for the North of England, as it would be dominated by London and the South East and we would be treated like second-class citizens."
For you, it WOULD be a disaster, as Labour would lose its majority in England. As for people in the North being treated like second class citizens, they are ALREADY being treated like second class citizens, because the Barnett formula gives disproportionately more funds to Scotland and Wales than it does to the North of England. The big losers have been the people of the North of England, which is why English nationalism is now on the rise IN THE NORTH OF ENGLAND.
"No, keep the England , Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland for the sports field; but in the world that really matters, let’s stick to the United Kingdom and end all of this nationalism nonsense."
Tell that to the Scottish, Welsh and Irish nationalists. We English are sick to death of hearing it.
"I am proud to be British, so let’s have a public holiday on a day relevant to Britain . What do you think?”
I USED to be proud of being British - that was until Labour's devolution policy gave special national status to the Scottish, Welsh and Irish whilst simultaneously denying it to the English. It also gives considerably more funds to the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish than it does to the English. The biggest losers, once again, are the people in the North of England. I am a Southern Englishman, who supports English nationalism PRECISELY BECAUSE OF WHAT YOUR DISCRIMINATORY POLICIES HAVE DONE TO THE GOOD PEOPLE OF THE NORTH OF ENGLAND. People who, I am sure, will soon be throwing the likes of you out of office.
Yours MOST sincerely,
Lee Jakeman
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