Lots of people are starting to pick up on this letter at the CEP Blog from Terry White of the Communications Unit of the Labour Party:
Dear Correspondent,
Thank you for your email.
Neither the Labour Party nor the Labour Government are pursuing the policy towards England or the English that you claim.
England, as opposed to Britain, has an unfortunate history around the world and within the British Isles and please do not say that it is all past.
It is a fact that the right and extreme right in Britain cloak themselves in the English flag, the cross of St.George and claim to be the true representatives of the English.
Wherever there is hooligan behaviour, usually linked to extreme right-wing political groups e.g. at football matches here and abroad, it is the flag of St.George that is displayed and that, I would imagine, is the reason why the MP referred to this type of ‘Englishness’ as a threat to democracy.Regards,
Terry White
Communications Unit
The Labour Party
Now, I’m not even going to start with the “England, as opposed to Britain, has an unfortunate history” bit because, well, I’ll probably give myself an aneurysm. Nor am I going to dwell on the technicality that history is in fact “all past”, because that’s kind of a standard definition and I’m going to defer the defence of the flag at football matches to well-known extreme right-winger Billy Bragg.
What I am going to ask is how the hell did this guy get a job in the Communications Unit? He’s meant to be evading the question, offering meaningless platitudes and generally obfuscating, not deliberately going out of his way to attack an entire country.
Added: Yes, yes, I know I go on about this, but I’m sorry, it really pisses me off. I dislike the attitude that being Welsh or Scottish is something to be proud of, cultures which should be actively encouraged, whereas being English is something dangerous and of which I should be ashamed. As for Englishness being “a threat to democracy” I take it’s no threat to democracy that MPs from Scotland can vote on matters that affect England, whereas MPs from England can’t vote on equivalent matters in Scotland? Eh?
You are quite right to be pissed off. And Terry White I think can only be descibed in the politest of terms, as a complete and utter fookin wanker.
He should remember that Britain, has had an unfortunate history around the world, based on decisions made by politicians, not by the English commoner.
Hadddock: I suppose the point is, I’ve had enough of being targetted because of my nationality (there’s a word for that) especially in my own country and as for England, or indeed Britain having an unfortunate history I’m just going to point you in the way of Harry Hutton who is a surreal starlet. Bless him, and the three-headed giraffe he walked in on.
I am not English but I think the labour party has lost the plot to be going off at a tangent whilst being blasphemous about the St.George’s flag. I think Terry White is confusing people & symbolism, not forgetting creating a synonimty which is too simple a political tactic.
Being English these days is more than just flag waving and represents a wide variety of “cultural and historical” meaning. Plus, why are you supposed to feel guilty of your past (with Union Jack) when the past has also brought about so many good things to so many people, not just bad colonial days.
My 2 cents worth, a chick from the ex-colony
Terry really is a total tool. I am sick and tired of these dullard pseudo intellectuals running down the country and our past. We bought civilization to the world, invented almost everything and did farm more good than harm.
Perhaps Terry should go and live in Afghaistan, I am sure he would prefer the waving of Klashnikovs to the harmless and exuberant waving of football fans.
This country is a great one, lets celebrate past glories and stop these liberal poncy halfwits from running us down.
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN !!!
sorry about spelling mistakes, I was a little angry !!!!!!!!!
Pisses us all off mate!