( Five minute read)

Modern English identity isn’t fixed in a history book.

It is a work in progress—an identity transitioning away from an imperial past and trying to figure out how to be a modern, diverse, relatively small island nation with a massive cultural footprint.

This is one of the reasons it left the European Union. Thinking it is still a world power, which of course it no longer is.

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Like most countries you cannot actually acquire its identity if you are not born in the country.

Even then if your born in the country and one or both your parents happen to be an immigrant or refugee you will not acquire the identity of that country even if your passport say so.

Why is this so?

The answer is complicated and raciest.

It would be fair to say that the politics of devolution over the past 20 years have focused attention on the identity politics of other parts of the United Kingdom. 

Which part of the UK presents its greatest existential challenge?

Scotland as it tests the waters of independence?

Northern Ireland with its borders buffeted by the winds of Brexit? and the Unification to the Republic of Ireland.?

The nationalist flames of the Welsh dragon, perhaps?

England has long been the conundrum at the heart of the union.

Until we understood what England means to its people, predicting its future would be very difficult.

Of course with a country that is called – The United Kingdom, Britain, and England, it’s no wonder its citizens are some what confused when asked what is their identity.

80% of the residents of England identify strongly as English. But it also finds a similar proportion, 82%, strongly identify as British.

British and English identities are intertwined; they are strands of the same national thread. However British identity is being strangled by rising English nationalist.

Pride in identifying as English is weaker among the young (45%) and stronger among the old (72%).

This is the reverse of the experience in Wales where the strength of the Welsh identity reduces with age. In Scotland, over 80% of all age-groups say they feel strongly Scottish.

If you want to witness the problem, just watch the English rugby team sing the English national anthem.

God save the king,

It could be related to the procession of land dating back centuries.,

All human comments appreciated. All like clicks and abuse chucked in the bin.

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