Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Billy Bragg and English Identity

Thought-provoking interview with Billy Bragg on 18 Doughty Street last night:



Good point made by Billy, that there is "no border between England and Westminster"...and using this fact to question further the rationale behind an England parliament.

Also, it's excellent to hear him confirm that we don't have to conform to political stereotypes...it's possible to be both a British patriot, and a believer in the concept of the European Union (as I am also), for example.

I don't subscribe to his ideas on regional assemblies, but, in all honesty, he provided a pretty strong argument that they make at least as much sense as the separate parliaments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Anyway, the video's above, it lasts 27 minutes and is worth a watch.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

True there are no borders in England, but there are borders between Scotland Wales and Northern Ireland.New Labour created them. The left are determined to create borders amongst the English it seems.
anyone being pro eu is generally in favour of regional assemblies which is why the eu was dragged into the NE referendum debate in 2004 and was a factor in the 78% NO vote.Bragg has nothing to offer England except a few dodgie songs.

O'Neill said...

.Bragg has nothing to offer England except a few dodgie songs.

I disagree (although not about the dodgy songs!.)

What he offers is another perspective of Englishness/Britishness, one which still *allows* us to celebrate our national identity without the fear of being labelled racists or fascists.