Welcome back, England
The Spectator welcomes England back
The flag of St George, once an oddity, is now a feature of the urban landscape, hanging proudly from the 20th floor of tower blocks as a symbol to those below of defiant hope and patriotism. It is a sign of how much has changed that the current issue of Time Out — scarcely a right-wing propaganda sheet — carries cheerful listings for ‘St George’s Day Celebrations’. Far from receding into the shadows, Englishness is moving centre-stage.
Whatever constitutional framework finally emerges from the messy experiment of devolution, England has not succumbed to the manifold cultural attacks which it has suffered, especially since 1997. Assaults on its country sports, customs and history and the growing injustices of devolution have only strengthened its sense of itself and its confidence in its future. Welcome back, England — and happy St George’s Day.
More articles from: | this section
Post this entry to: del.icio.us | Digg | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit
Advertisement
It wasn’t meant to be this way. The Tories used…
David Cameron is a sunny-side-up politician. At his first party…
The year has begun with the British political class obsessing…
Westminster used to think that 2012 would be the year…
Downing Street’s negotiating team returned from Berlin last Friday afternoon…
Popular Blogger Posts
1 Terry shouldn’t be captain, but that should be Capello’s decision to make - Rod Liddle
2 Snow? What snow? - Rod Liddle
3 JFK: The Nastiest President of the Twentieth Century? - Alex Massie
4 Do we really need to know more about Gary Speed’s death? - Rod Liddle
5 Scottish Labour Embrace the Logic of Independence - Alex Massie
sponsored links
THE PRESENT FINDER
1,700 Unusual Christmas Presents Request Catalogue 01935 815 195 Quote SPEC10 for 10% discount www.presentfinder.co.uk
OLIVE BRANCH FLORISTS
Pimilco based Florist with online ordering Web: www.olivebranch.net Tel: 020 7630 1868 Fax: 020 7233 8844
RUFFS Bespoke Signet rings
62 Shore Road, Warsash, Southampton, SO31 9FT Telephone: 01489 578867 Web site: www.ruffs.co.uk
Apollo Magazine | Corporate | Advertising | Privacy | Terms
Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London, SW1H 9HP
All Articles and Content Copyright ©2012 by The Spectator | All Rights Reserved
John
April 18th, 2008 2:35am Report this commentWe've been here all the time.
Welcome back, Spectator.
Mark Solomon
April 27th, 2008 6:42pm Report this commentThere is too much scaremongering and doomsaying about the dismantling of the Union. It is not the all or nothing proposition commonly portrayed, to scare people into backing the status quo. The Union of England and Wales dates from the Middle Ages; Scotland joined in 1707; Ireland in 1803; the southern counties of Ireland left in 1918. So Scotland could quite easily leave the Union if it wanted to, without the UK being dissolved - it would just be a United Kingdom of England,Wales and Northern Ireland instead. If that is what Scotland wants, then us English Conservatives should welcome it-democracy at work, money being saved and political dominance of the remaining UK Labour would have trouble breaking! Scottish Nationalists are Nationalists-ie generally right of centre people and potential allies if the poison surrounding the 'unchanging Union' can be removed from the debate. With no seats up there, what have we got to lose?
Back to top