Beyond a 90-minute nation: Why it’s time for an inclusive England outside the stadium

Sunder Katwala, John Denham and Steve Ballinger

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Published2021byBritishFutureandtheCentreforEnglishIdentityandPoliticsattheUniversityofSouthamptonBritishFutureKeanHouse6KeanStreetLondonWC2B4ASwww.britishfuture.orginfo@britishfuture.org@britishfutureRegisteredCharityNumber:1159291Authors:SunderKatwala,JohnDenhamandSteveBallingerEditor:SteveBallingerResearch:SunderKatwala,MichelleMidziandSteveBallinger©BritishFuture2021Theauthors’rightshavebeenasserted.BritishFutureisanindependent,non-partisanthinktankengagingpeople’shopesandfearsaboutintegrationandmigration,identityandrace,sothatweshareaconfidentandwelcomingBritain,inclusiveandfairtoall.

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Introduction:AnEnglandforallofusSteveBallingerAt2pmthisSunday13June,shopsandparksacrossEnglandwillfallsilentandemptyaspeopletuneintowatchMarcusRashford,HarryKaneandRaheemSterlingtaketothepitchinEngland’sopeninggameofEuro2021.Fewthingsuniteusacrossthisnationlikefootball:England’ssemi-finaldefeatin2018’sWorldCup,tothisSunday’sopponentsCroatia,wasthemost-watchedTVmomentoftheyearwithanaudienceof26million.Sosupportersacrossthenationwillbeperchedontheedgesoftheirsofas,hopingtoseetheThreeLionsprogresstothetournament’sWembleyfinalinJuly.Newresearchforthisreportfindsthattheteam’sappealcutsacrossage,gender,politicsandethnicbackground,withtwo-thirdsofwhite(66%)andethnicminority(65%)respondentsinEnglandagreeingthattheEnglandfootballteambelongstopeopleofeveryraceandethnicbackgroundinEnglandtoday.AsSunderKatwalaofBritishFutureexploresinthisreport,theEnglandfootballteamhasbeenthefocusofdebatesaboutwhocouldbeEnglishfromthemomentVivAndersonbecameEngland’sfirstblackplayerin1978.Morethan100blackandmixedraceplayershavetakentothefieldinanEnglandshirtsincethen.ThesuccessoftheEnglandwomen’steam,theLionesses,hasalsobroughtethnicminorityplayerssuchasNikitaParrisandDemiStokestonationalattention.TheparticipationofEngland’slargestminority,thoseofAsianheritage,isnotablyabsentfromthefootballpitch.ButfootballisnottheonlysportinwhichEnglandcompetes:cricket’sMoeenAli,MontyPanesar,AdilRashidandNasserHussain,whocaptainedEnglandfrom1999-2003,haveplayedtheirownpartinshiftingperceptionsofwhatanEnglandplayer,orindeedsupporter,lookslike–longafterNormanTebbitbroughtracerelationstothestandsatHeadingleyandTheOvalwithhisinfamous‘crickettest’.SporthasdonemuchoftheworktodateinsettlingdebatesaboutwhetheryoucouldbefromanethnicminoritybackgroundandbeEnglish.Thefar-right’sassertionthat‘thereain’tnoblackintheunionjack’haslongsincebeenrejectedbythevastmajorityofpeopleinBritaintoday.England’smulti-ethnicfootballteam,ledtotheWorldCupsemi-finalsbyamanagerinGarethSouthgatewhopubliclyrecogniseditssymbolicpower,hasdonemuchthesameforthecrossofStGeorge–oratleastfortheThreeLions.YetEnglishfootballandracearebackintheheadlinesthisweek,afterplayers“takingaknee”beforethepre-tournamentfriendliesinMiddlesbroughwerebooedandapplaudedbydifferentpartsofthecrowd.Supportersmayholdarangeofviewsaboutthisspecificgesture,andoftheBlackLivesMatteranti-racismproteststhatitsupports.ButnowthatSouthgatehasmadeclearwhytheplayershavechosento

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continuetakingthisstand,appealingtothoseinthestadiumtoconsidertheirimpactonyoungEnglandfootballers,onehopesthatEnglandfanswouldrejectthebooingoftheirownplayersastheykickoffamajortournament.Outsideofthestadium,effortstobuildaninclusivesenseofEnglishidentityremainaworkinprogress.Thereisconsensustodaythatyoudon’thavetobewhitetobeEnglish–andthatthisidentitycanandshouldbeopenandinclusiveofpeopleofallethnicandfaithbackgroundsinEnglandtoday.Researchforthisreportfindsthatthreequarters(77%)ofwhitepeopleinEnglandand68%ofethnicminoritycitizensagreethatbeingEnglishisopentopeopleofdifferentethnicbackgroundswhoidentifyasEnglish.Yetthisimportantshiftacrossthegenerationsremainsaworkinprogress,bothforwhiteandethnicminoritycitizens.ClearmajoritiesofwhiterespondentsfeelEnglandanditssymbolsareopentoall–yetwhileethnicminoritiesagreethattheyshouldbe,theystilldon’tquitefeelconfidentthattheyarefullyinvitedtotheparty.BuildingamoreinclusiveEnglishidentitymayhavelessobviousbenefits,too,inhelpingtobridgeotherdivides,notbyethnicitybutbyage,placeandpolitics.AsmallbutvocalminorityofwhitepeopleinEngland–predominantlyyounger,urban,educatedandsociallyliberal–arereluctanttoassociatethemselveswithEnglishidentitybecausetheyperceiveittobeassociatedwithnegative,insularvalues.AmoreinclusiveEnglishnesswillholdstrongerappealnotonlyforethnicminoritiesbutforthisliberalgrouptoo–helpingtobridgesocialdividesthatwerehighlightedduringtheEUreferendumcampaign.WetalkaboutinclusiveEnglishidentityinthecontextofsportbecauseweseldomtalkaboutEnglishidentityatall,outsideofsport.AsJohnDenhamoftheCentreforEnglishIdentityandPoliticsargueshere,itistimeforthattochange.OtherinstitutionsthatengagewithandoperateinEngland–inartsandculture,heritage,businessandpolitics–canoftenfailtocelebrateorevenacknowledgeEngland.Worsestill,theycanevenperpetuateoutdatedstereotypesofEnglishidentitythatmakeEnglishnessseemthreateningorunattractive.Sootherswillneedtostepupandfindtheirvoice,tohelpbuildaninclusiveEnglishidentityoutsidethestadium.FootballhaslaidthefoundationsofanEnglishnessthatisopentoallofus,butsportcannotdoitalone.Andfans–ofeverycreedandcolour–willwanttheteamtofocusongettingpastCroatia,ScotlandandtheCzechRepublic.Fifty-fiveyearsofhurtneverstoppedusdreaming.

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IsthereaninclusiveEnglandoutsidethestadium?-NewBritishFutureresearchfindingsSteveBallingerAstheEnglandteampreparestokickoffintheEuro2021tournament,newBritishFutureresearchintoEnglishidentityandraceexamineshowfarwehavecomewitheffortstomakeEnglishnessfeelopentopeopleinEnglandofallethnicbackgrounds,andwheregapsstillremain.Researchforthisreporttookplaceovertwophases.NumberCruncherPoliticsconductedaninitial,nationallyrepresentativepollof1,088whiteBritishand1,000ethnicminorityrespondentsfromthe9thto17thOctober2020.AsecondnationallyrepresentativepollwasconductedbyNumberCruncherPoliticsfrom15Januaryto14February2021,withanexpandedsampleof2,000ethnicminorityUKadultsand1,501whiteUKadults.Allfiguresquotedhererefertothisresearchbase,unlessotherwisestated.MostpeopleagreethatEnglishnessisopentoallofusThatyoudonothavetobewhitetobeEnglishisnowasettled,majorityview,withwhichonlyaminoritydisagrees.Threequarters(77%)ofwhitepeopleinEnglandagreethat"BeingEnglishisopentopeopleofdifferentethnicbackgroundswhoidentifyasEnglish."Just14%agreedwiththeopposingstatement,“OnlypeoplewhoarewhitecountastrulyEnglish.”Someoftheseseemlikely,basedontheirotherresponses,tobevoicinganassessmentthatEnglandisnotasinclusiveastheywouldlikeittobe,ratherthananexclusiveandracialisedviewofEnglishidentity.One-fifth(22%)saidtheysupportedBlackLivesMatter,forinstance;while21%saidthatimmigrationhashadapositiveimpactonBritain1.Itseemscredible,therefore,thattheproportionofwhitepeopleinEnglandholdingaraciallyexclusiveviewofEnglishidentityisclosertooneinten.ThisinclusiveviewofEnglishnessissharedbymostethnicminoritycitizens,albeitwithalittlelessconfidence.Two-thirds(68%)ofethnicminoritycitizensagreethatbeingEnglishisopentopeopleofallbackgrounds,while19%feelthatEnglishidentityisstillthepreserveofwhitepeople.Forwhiterespondents,agreementwithaninclusiveEnglishnessisheldacrossgenerationalandpoliticaldivides.Some75%ofConservativesand85%ofLabourvotersagreethatEnglishidentityisforeveryoneinEngland;while81%of18-24-year-oldsand78%ofover-65sfeelthesame.Ethnicminorityviewsonthe1Whenasked‘onascaleof1-10(with1verynegativeand10verypositive),doyouthinkimmigrationhashadapositiveornegativeimpactonBritainandtheplacewhereyoulive?’21%ofthisgroupgaveapositivescorebetween7and10.

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inclusivenessofEnglishidentity,however,varyconsiderablybyage.Whilethree-quarters(73%)ofunder-24sfeelconfidentthatbeingEnglishisopentoallofus,only60%overover-65sagree,and3in10(28%)saythatonlywhitepeoplecantrulybeEnglish.

InclusiveEnglishnessremainsaworkinprogress.Buttheacceptedwisdom,thatBritishnessisaninclusiveidentitywhileEnglishnessremainsmorecontested,maynowbeopentoquestion.ThegapbetweenBritishandEnglishidentityappearstobeshrinking.Some85%ofethnicminorityrespondentsfeelsomesenseofbelongingtoEngland,with3in10(28%)feelingthisstrongly.Only10%saytheyfeelnosenseofbelongingtoEnglandatall.ThatputsEnglandlevelwithBritain,towhich87%ofethnicminoritiesfeelasenseofbelonging,with31%feelingthisstrongly.Some7%ofethnicminoritycitizenssaytheydonotfeelasenseofbelongingtoBritain.ConfidenceintheinclusivityofBritishidentityremainshigh.Eightintenethnicminoritycitizens(80%)agreethat"BlackandAsianpeopleborninBritainarejustasBritishaswhitepeopleborninBritain,”whilejust7%disagree.Whiterespondentsfeelthesame(79%agree,7%disagree).Butwith7in10ethnicminoritycitizens(68%)nowagreeingthatEnglishidentityisinclusivetoo,anEnglishnessthatfeelsasinclusiveasBritishnessmaysoonbeinsight.Whatthisnewresearchreveals,however,isthatoncewediscountsport,thereisstillmuchmoreworktodobeforethesymbolsandmomentsaroundwhichaninclusiveEnglishnesscanbebuilt,sharedandcelebrated,feelequallyownedbypeoplefromeveryethnicbackgroundinEnglandtoday.

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MarcusRashford’sEnglandisourstrongestsymbolofaninclusiveEnglishidentityTheEnglandfootballteamhassignificantlymorepowertoembodyandpromoteaninclusiveEnglishidentity,belongingequallytopeoplefromallethnicbackgroundsinEngland,thananyothersymbolofEnglishness.Two-thirds(65%)ofethnicminoritycitizensinEnglandagreethattheEnglandfootballteamisasymbolofEnglandthat‘belongstopeopleofeveryraceandethnicbackgroundinEnglandtoday.’Just8%disagree.Whiterespondentsfeltthesame,with66%agreeingthattheEnglandteambelongstoallofusandonly7%disagreeing.TheEnglandteamappearstohavethe‘Heinekeneffect’ofreachingallpartsofsocietyinEngland.ThattheThreeLionsbelongstoallofusisfeltequallybytheyoungandold;byConservativeandLabourvotersalike;bybothLeaversandRemainers;andbyblack(67%),Asian(64%)andmixedracepeople(70%)inEnglandtoo.Outsideofthefootballstadium,however,thereisamuchweakerconsensusastowhethersymbolsofEnglandareopenandequallyshared.

Thefullquestionaskedwas:“ThinkingaboutthefollowingsymbolsofEngland,howmuchdoyouagreeordisagreewiththestatement“thisbelongstopeopleofeveryraceandethnicbackgroundinEnglandtoday?”

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TheEnglandflagWhilesixintenwhiterespondents(59%)agreethattheEnglandflagisasymbolofEnglandthat‘belongstopeopleofeveryraceandethnicbackgroundinEnglandtoday,’lessthanhalf(48%)ofethnicminoritycitizensfeelthesame.Afifth(19%)ofethnicminoritiesdisagree.ViewsoftheEnglandflagaredividedbygenerationaswellasbyethnicbackground,however.Onlyhalf(53%)ofwhite18-24-year-oldsfeelthattheEnglandflagbelongsequallytopeopleofdifferentbackgrounds,with16%sayingtheydisagree.Amongwhitepeopleaged65+,however,7in10(69%)saytheStGeorge’sflagbelongsequallytousall.Theviewsofolderethnicminoritycitizensarequitesimilar,with6in10(61%)feelingthattheflagbelongsequallytoallofusinEngland;whileonly45%ofethnicminority18-24-year-oldsagreewiththem.Asian(51%)andmixedracerespondents(54%)feltagreatersenseofsharedownershipoftheEnglandflagthanblackrespondents,amongwhomonly41%agreedthattheEnglandflagisequallyownedbypeopleofallbackgrounds.WealsoaskedrespondentshowtheyfeltwhentheysawtheEnglandflagonsomeone'shome,car,shoporpub–whethertheysawthisasahealthyexpressionofnationalprideoraworryingexpressionofnationalism.Wewereinterestedinfindingout,too,whetheritmadeadifferencewhentheflagwasflownduringasportstournamentliketheEuros,comparedtoanyothertimeofyear.ThefindingsshowthepowerofsporttonormaliseexpressionsofEnglishidentity,andhowwestillhavesomewaytogobeforeEnglishnessfeelsinclusiveoutsideofthestadium.WhenwearecheeringontheEnglandteamattheEurosthissummer,sixintenwhitecitizens(58%)andaroundhalf(47%)ofethnicminoritycitizenswouldseeanEnglandflagoutsideapub,orhangingfromsomeone’swindow,asahealthyexpressionofEnglishpride.Divorcedfromsport,however,onanormaldayoftheyear,onlyhalfofwhitecitizens(49%)and4in10ethnicminorities(38%)seetheflaginsuchapositivelight.Aquarterofethnicminorities(26%)andafifthofwhiterespondents(21%)wouldseetheStGeorge’sflagasaworryingexpressionofnationalismwhenitisnotassociatedwithsport.ThefindingsalsorevealastrikingchallengeforthoseseekingtobuildaninclusiveEnglishnessforthefuture.Fortheyoungestgroupofwhiterespondentsaged18-24,the‘Rashfordeffect’doesnotseemtoapplywhentheyseeanEnglandflagoutsidethepub:only38%seeitasahealthyexpressionofnationalpride,whileaquarterseetheflagasanegativesymbolofnationalismwhetherthere’sEuro’21footballonthebigscreensornot(28%duringthetournament,27%outsideofit).ThisillustratesawiderpointaboutthechallengeforEnglishidentityinconnectingwithsomesociallyliberalgroupsofwhitepeopleinEnglandwhoassociateitwithnegativevalues.

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Aquarterofethnicminority18-24salsosawtheflagasanegativesymbol,regardlessofsport(25%duringasportingevent,27%without).FlyingtheEnglandflagmoreoftenmayhelpnormaliseitforsomeaudiences,butforyoungpeopletheeffectmayequallybetopolariseandpushthemfurtheraway.ThecontextofamajorsportingeventliketheEurosdoeshaveaninoculatingeffect,makingpeoplefeelwarmertowardsdisplaysoftheEnglandflag.Yetforyoungerpeopleinparticular,thereisalotmoreworktobedonebeforetheStGeorge’sflagbecomesasharedsymbolofaninclusiveEnglandonaparwithfootball’sthreelions.

Fullquestionaskedwas:‘Whichofthefollowing,ifeither,bestdescribeshowyouwouldfeelifyousawanEnglandflagonsomeone'shome,car,shoporpubduringasummerwhenEnglandisplaying(a)intheEuropeanChampionships/WorldCup?(b)Onanormaldayoftheyear?’

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CallingyourselfEnglish

MostwhitepeopleinEnglanddonotfeelthatEnglishnessistheirexclusivepreserve.Two-thirds(64%)ofwhiterespondentsinourresearchagreedthat‘callingyourselfEnglish’isopentopeopleofeveryraceandethnicbackgroundinthenation.Thatsentimentisfeltmoststronglybyolderwhitepeople,with70%ofover-65sinagreement,comparedto56%ofwhite18-24-year-olds.WhenacallertohisLBCradioshowrecentlytoldDavidLammyMPthathecouldnotcallhimselfEnglishbecausehewasofCaribbeandescent,hiscalmresponse,asheexplainedwhyherightlyfeltEnglish,wonwidespreadpraise.Publicandcross-partypoliticalsupportfollowedthenextday,withTheSunrunningadouble-pagespreadbackingtheLabourMPandreinforcingthemajorityviewthatEnglishnessisopentoallofus.Asmentionedearlier,14%ofwhitepeopleinEnglandsaythatbeingwhiteisapre-conditionforbeingEnglish,comparedto77%whofeeltheopposite.Whentheviewsofthatminorityareexpressedpointedlyinthedirectionofethnicminoritycitizens,however–onsocialmedia,inthestreetorinaradiophone-in–theyhaveanimpact.SowhileethnicminoritiesinEnglandincreasinglyfeelEnglish,asnotedabove–withtwo-thirdssayingthatEnglishidentityisopentoall,andmajoritiesvoicingasenseofbelongingtoEngland–thereissomehesitancyinvoicingit.Lessthanhalf(46%)ofethnicminoritiesinEnglandagreethat‘callingyourselfEnglish’belongstopeopleofeveryraceandethnicbackgroundinEnglandtoday,whileone-fifth(21%)disagree.Therearedistinctdifferencesbetweenethnicminoritygroups,withBlackpeople(38%)leastlikelytofeelthatcallingyourselfEnglishisopentopeopleofallethnicbackgrounds,comparedtohalf(49%)ofAsiansand52%ofmixed-racerespondents.Thislackofconfidence,forethnicminorities,incallingoneselfEnglishmaycomefromworriesthatsomeonemaycontestthispoint,ashappenedtoDavidLammy.Itmaydepend,too,ontheformthatEnglishnesstakes:ethnicminoritycitizenswillconfidentlysaythattheEnglandfootballteamistheirteam,butclearlyfeellesswarmthtowardstheEnglandflag.WhilethewidespreadsupportforDavidLammyshowedhowfarwehavecome,thisnewresearchsuggestswestillhavesomewaytogo.

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StGeorge’sDayIfwewishtotakeEnglishidentityoutsideofthestadium,wewillneedmoments–likeEngland’sPatronSaint’sDayon23April–thatbringpeopletogethertocelebrateEnglishnessbutdon’tinvolvekicking(orbowling)aball.YetpreviousresearchforBritishFuturebyICMfoundthatonly40%ofuscouldnamethedateofStGeorge’sDay,comparedto71%whoknowthedateofUSIndependenceDay2.Two-thirds(66%)ofpeopleinEnglandfeltthatStPatrick’sDayismorewidely-celebratedinEngland.Sothereisworktobedonebeforepeoplesee23Aprilastimeforaparty;butiftherewereone,wouldeveryonefeelinvited?OurnewresearchfindsthatonlyfourintenethnicminoritycitizensinEngland(39%)currentlyagreethataStGeorge’sDaypartyisasymbolofEnglandthatbelongstoallofus,whileone-fifth(21%)disagree.Thatissomewaybehindwhiterespondentstoourpoll,amongwhom54%agreedthatStGeorge’sDayisasharedsymbolofEngland,with11%disagreeing.Thereisabiggenerationalgap,too,amongwhiterespondents,withonly42%ofthoseaged18-24feelingthataStGeorge’sDaypartybelongstopeopleofallbackgroundsand18%indisagreement–almostidenticaltoethnicminoritysentiment.Yetsixintenwhitepeopleagedover65(63%)feelpositiveaboutStGeorge’sDayasasymbolofaninclusiveEngland.Ourresearchfound,however,thatthereisasharedappetiteforchange.Majoritiesofbothwhite(66%)andethnicminoritycitizens(56%)agreethatdoingmoretomarkStGeorge'sDay,ensuringthosefromallethnicgroupsareinvitedtotakepart,wouldbeapositivewaytofosterasharedidentityinEnglandtoday.Only5%ofwhiterespondentsand8%ofethnicminoritycitizensdisagree.AmongwhiterespondentsthereismajorityagreementacrosspoliticaldividesthatcelebratingStGeorge’sDaycouldbeamomenttobringpeopletogether.Remainvoters(63%)andLeavevoters(70%),aswellasLabourvoters(66%)andConservativevoters(75%)allexpressedsupport.Youngerpeople,too,cangetbehindtheideaofmakingStGeorge’sDaymoreinclusive,with68%ofwhite18-24-year-oldssupportive,alongwithamajority(51%)ofethnicminority18-24s.Olderethnicminorityrespondentswereparticularlysupportive,with65%likingtheideaofinvestingenergyincreatinganinclusivecelebrationon23April.Insomeplacesthatisalreadyhappening.TheStGeorge’sDayparadeinDartfordeachyear,organisedbytheKentEqualityCohesionCouncil,bringshundredsofchildrenfromthearea’sdiverselocalschoolstogethertoparadethroughthetowncentre,cheeredonbytheirparents.Southampton,too,hasmadeeffortstoensurethatStGeorge’sDayiscelebratedinaninclusiveway.OurresearchshowsanappetitetoreplicatesuchmomentsalloverEngland:whenwehavepreviouslyasked

2ICMforBritishFuture,2014https://www.britishfuture.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/British-Futures-Englishness-Poll.pdf

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peoplewhytheydon’tdomoretocelebrateStGeorge’sDay,acommonresponsehasbeenbecauseno-oneorganisesanything.BuildinganinclusiveEnglishnessisnotstraightforward.ThesymbolsofEnglishidentityarecontestedanddonot,atpresent,feelequallyownedbypeopleofallbackgroundsinEngland.Thedialisshiftingandthereisanappetitetodomore.Butoneissueisthatwesimplydonotencounterthesesymbolsveryoften.TheEnglandfootballteambringspeopletogetherfromallbackgroundsinEnglandbecausewhentheyareplayingitisoneofthefewmomentswhenweevergettogethertocelebrateEnglishidentity.ThatidentityisnowwidelyfelttobeopentoallofuswhofeelEnglish.TakingEnglishnessoutsideofthestadiummaysimplybeacaseofgettingthebuntingoutoncetheseasonisover–andmakingsureeveryonefeelsinvitedtotheparty.

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Footballtellsthestoryofwhowe,theEnglish,aretodaySunderKatwalaItwasthatglorioussummerwhenFootballCameHomethatchangedhowIfeltaboutEngland.ThatthemostconfidentexpressionofaninclusiveEnglishidentityshouldcomefromfootballwasasurprisingdevelopment.Duringthetrialsandtribulationsofthe1980s,footballwasmorelikelytobeseenascentraltotheproblemofhownationalidentitycouldtakeviolentandxenophobicforms.So,aquarterofacenturyon,astheEnglandteamsetsitssightsonaWembleyfinalonceagain,itisimportanttounderstandthesignificantcontributionsthatEngland’sfootballteamhasmadeinprovidingapositivevisionofamodern,sharedEnglishidentity–aswellastoconsiderwhatneedstohappentoextendthatideabeyondsportandacrosssociety.HowfootballchangedwhowethoughtofasEnglish“Theimaginednationofmillionsisnevermorerealthanasateamofelevennamedindividuals”,wrotethehistorianEricHobsbawm.FootballhasdonemorethananyothersphereofournationallifetochangewhowenowthinkofasEnglish.Nobodyhadtoldmy8-year-oldselfthattherewasanyquestionofwhetherIcouldbeEnglish.AsanavidreaderofShoot!Magazine,IwouldanxiouslyfollowthesagaofwhetherKevinKeeganwouldbefittogotoSpainin1982.ButIunderstoodthatothersfoundthisamorecomplicatedquestionbythetimethatIwasateenager.Beingafootballfan,withanEvertonseasonticket,introducedmetoascaleofovertandpublicracismthatmychildren’sgenerationwillneverwitness.Yetitwaslargelyfootballthatwastointroducemetoanti-racismtoo.WhenVivAndersontookthefieldforEnglandagainstCzechoslovakiain1978,hehadbecomethefirstBlackEnglishinternationalfootballer.ThegamebecamethesiteofafiercepublicargumentaboutwhocouldbeEnglish.CyrilleRegishasspokenpowerfullyofhow,onbeingpickedforEnglandin1982,hereceivedabulletinthepost,warninghimnottosetfootontheWembleyturf.ThatsameyearwhenJohnBarnesdribbledthroughtheBrazildefenceintheMaracanatoputEnglandtwo-nilup,theNationalFrontcontingentintheawaysupportchanted“one-nil”instead.ThismayhavebeenoneofthegreatmodernEnglandgoals,buttheNFargumentwasthat“blackgoalsdon’tcount.”Thatpioneeringgenerationoffootballershadwontheargumentdecisivelybythetimethe1990sbegan.WhenPaulInceworethearmbandtobecomeEngland’sfirstblackcaptainin1993,therewasnopubliccontroversyastowhetherhewasEnglish.Manypeoplewouldnowbesurprisedtofindoutthat,whenJohnBarnescameonas

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alatesubstituteinthe1986WorldCupquarter-finalagainstArgentina,hewasthefirstblackEnglandplayertoplayintheWorldCupfinals.Football’splaceinournationalcultureandidentityremainedrathermorecomplex.Italia’90–Pavarotti’sNessunDorma,Gazza’stearsandpenalties–hadbeenafoundationalmomentinchangingthestatusofmodernfootball.ButthiswasonlyayearafterHillsborough,andcamewhileEnglishclubsideswerebannedfromplayinginEuropeantournamentsforthefiveyearsaftertheHeyseltragedyof1985.Euro’96itselfcamejustmonthsafterEngland’sfriendlyinternationalinDublinwasabandonedthepreviousAutumn,withthefar-rightCombat-18groupplayingacentralroleinthatriot.Therecouldbeamixed,edgyatmosphereinthepubsaroundEnglandmatches.IwouldnothaveriskedfollowingthenationalteamtoanawaygameintheyearsbeforeEuro’96.But,athome,Itookpartinthe‘RaisetheFlag’initiativewhere40volunteerswouldgettoWembleysixhoursbeforekick-offtolayoutthewhiteandredcardsforagiantStGeorge’sCross,andtheflagofouropponentstoo.Thechallengetoracisminfootballcultureinvolvedmanyactiveeffortsaroundbothclubsandcountry,tofostertheconfidentandinclusivesenseoffanculturethatbrokethroughonthenationalstageasEnglandhostedtheEuros.HowEuro’96reshapedamodernfootballingEnglishnessThemagicofEuro‘96waspartlyaboutthefootball.TerryVenables’EnglandteamplayedwithaconfidencethatwouldhavebeenunimaginablewhenGrahamTaylor’steamhadfailedtoqualifyforthe1994WorldCup.Themagnificent4-1victoryovertheNetherlandshasagoodclaimtobethebestEnglishperformanceofmoderntimes.Thesemi-finalwithGermany,endinginapenaltyshoot-outdefeat,wasanepicoccasion.FewEnglandfansoldenoughtorememberitwillforgettheatmosphereofthatsummer.Euro’96changedmanythingsoffthepitchtoo.Englandthinksofitselfasacountryofevolutionaryratherthanrevolutionarychange.YettheremakingofFootballEnglishnessatEuro’96involvedseveralshiftsofidentityoffthepitchthatechothefoundingmomentsofmodernstates.Englandsupporterschangedwhichflagweflewinthestadium–andevenadoptedanew(unofficial)nationalanthem.IthadbeenUnionJacksthatflutteredintheWembleysunshinewhenEnglandwontheWorldCupthirtysummersbefore.NowtheStGeorge’sFlagdominatestheWembleyskyline.Itisnotentirelyclearwhytheflagschangedthatsummer.Beingtournamenthosts–andtheluckofthedrawputtingEnglandandScotlandinthesamegroupatamajortournamentforthefirsttime–hadalottodowithit.Despitegettingtheflagrightfrom1996,EnglishteamscontinuetoofficiallyusetheanthemoftheUnitedKingdom,evenifplayingScotland,WalesorNorthernIreland.YettheinclusiveEnglishnessof1996wasbestcapturedbyanewunofficialanthem,ThreeLions,encapsulatingthespiritwithwhichEnglandwouldhostthetournament.

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ThesongrewrotethenarrativeofEngland’sfootballhistory.AdominantchargeagainstEnglishfootballhadoftenbeenthatofarrogance:thatthecountrythatinventedthegamehadnevercometotermswithlosingtoforeigners.YetThreeLionsdisruptsandrejectsthisnotion.Atournamentsinglesungfromtheviewpointnotoftheplayers,butthefans,couldrevealadifferenttruth.Englandnolongerexpects.(“Allthoseoh-so-nearswearyoudownthroughtheyears”).Rather,supportingEnglandinvolvesatriumphofhopeoverexperience.(“Thirtyyearsofhurtneverstoppedmedreaming”).Thenostalgiaisnotjustforthatonefamousvictory–“JulesRimetstillgleaming”–whichtookplacebeforemanyfanswereborn,butabouttheexperiencesthatwehavesharedsincetoo.SoThreeLionsisananthemthatcaptureswhatitistobeanation:thesharedmomentsweexperiencetogether,whetherofvictoryordefeat,turnnotjustintopersonalmemoriesbutintosharedstories,legendsandmythsaboutwhoweare,whichunderpinandinformourambitionsforthefuture.25yearson,ThreeLionscouldevenbeunderstoodasanEnglishanthemabouthowtobeateasewithbeingamiddlingpower.AfterEuro’96:raceandidentityinsportandbeyondInthiscentury,themulti-ethnicnatureofamodernEnglandteamhassimplybecomeanunremarkablenorm.Morethan100blackormixed-raceplayers,nearlyathirdofthosecappedforEnglandsinceVivAnderson,havewornthethreelions.Thefoundationalargumentshavelongbeensettled–onthepitchbythemid-1990sand,increasingly,offittoointheyearssince.Thisreflectsabigsocialshift–notleastbecausehalfofethnicminoritiesinEnglandareEnglish-born.ManyofthefirstgenerationofCommonwealthmigrants–likemyfather,fromIndia–wereproudtobecomeBritish,butfewfeltthattheywereinvitedtobecomeEnglishtoo.HoldingaBritishpassportsymbolisedthatthiswasthesharedidentityofcitizenship.TheunspokenassumptionwasthatEnglish,ScottishandWelshidentitiesbelongedprimarilytothenativepopulation.ButthathasoftenfeltdifferenttotheirEnglish-bornchildren,whofeltabirthrightclaimtobothidentities.ThiswasonereasonwhyPaulInceandIanWrightfacedfewerchallengestotheirstatusasEnglishthanCyrilleRegisorJohnBarnesbeforethem.Morebroadly,GarethSouthgatehasspokenofhisdesirethattheEnglandteam“havethechancetoaffectsomethingbiggerthanourselves.”“We’reateamwithourdiversityandouryouththatrepresentsmodernEngland,”hesaid,aheadofEngland’sruntotheWorldCupsemi-finalsinRussia.“InEnglandwehavespentabitoftimebeingabitlostastowhatourmodernidentityis.Ithinkasateamwerepresentthatmodernidentityandhopefullypeoplecanconnectwithus.”

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England'steamisnotentirelyamicrocosmofourmulti-ethnicsociety:therehavebeenveryfewAsianprofessionalfootballersyet.ButtheBritishFutureresearchcapturesthatfansofallethnicbackgroundsfeelasenseofconnectiontotheteam. AndtheRaheemSterlingandMarcusRashfordgeneration,inheritingtheprogressofthepast,hasbroughtanewvoicetoissuesofraceandsocialaction. Racismstillexists,insportandinwidersociety.Itisasmall,shrinkingminoritythatbelievesinanethnicallyexclusiveEngland.Theproblemofthe2020sisthatthisracistfringeisamplifiedbyasocialmediapresence,whiletheovertracismthatwasgivenaredcardinthestadiumsstillgetsagreenlightfromthesocialmediarules.“Blackgoalsdon’tcount–noblacksintheEnglandteam”isthekindofindefensibleracismthatTwitterandFacebookrulescurrentlypermit,evenastheseplatformsshareanti-racismhashtagsinanexpressionofsolidarity.Thisspringsawasymbolicboycottbyfootballplayers,clubsandothersports,protestingthisfailuretotackleracistabuse.Whatnext?Beyonda90minutenationThepowerofsportmatters.Itmaymattermoreinanincreasinglyindividualisticandfragmentedage.Astheybecomescarcer,thehandfulofeventsthatmightbringfifteenmillionormoreofustogetheratonetimeareevenmorevaluable.Havingamulti-ethnicteamdoesnotmakeanationalidentitythatisinclusive,butitoffersanideaaboutwhowearenow,thatmostpeoplebelievein.Itistimeforthatideatobeprojectedoutsideofthestadiumtoo.Welivetodayinamoreconsciouslymulti-nationalstate,wheremostofusidentifywithmorethanoneflag.Sportingfanshavebeenusedtothispluralismofidentitiesformuchlonger:supportingournationalfootballteamsbeforecheeringforTeamGBattheOlympicGames.Outsideofsport,thepoliticsofnationalidentityhavebecomemorefraught,playingacentralroleinmajorpoliticalarguments–likethoseoverBrexit,orthefutureoftheUnitedKingdom–thatcansplitoursocietiesdownthemiddle.Thiscanundoubtedlymakeeffortstoentrenchcivicandinclusivenationalidentitiesmoredifficult.Itshouldalsomakenationalsymbolswhichbridgeeventhedeepestpoliticaldividesmorevaluablestill.WhentheEngland,ScotlandandWalesnationalteamsplayinEuro2021theywillcommandsupportacrosspoliticalandreferendumtribes–offeringonereminderthatthosewithopposingviewsonthebiggestpoliticalquestionsneedtofindwaystodisagreeandlivetogether.EnglandcouldlearnfromScotland,oncethoughtofasa‘90-minutenation’.TheScotlandofthe2020sismuchlessdependentonthevicissitudesofsportingsuccessforitssenseofstatus,bothathomeandabroad.InqualifyingforEuro2021,itsteamwillnotcarrytheburdenofnationalidentitythattheScottishteamsofthe1970sand1980soncedid.ItishardertofindpositiverecognitionofEnglandoutsideofthesportingsphere.

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Ourfootballteamhastoldthestoryofwhowe,theEnglish,aretoday,whileothernationalvoicesandinstitutionshavefailedtospeakforEngland.Oursocietyhasseensignificantinter-generationalprogressonaninclusiveEnglishness–butthatremainsworkinprogress.AstrongerefforttofosterthatcivicandinclusiveEnglishnessbeyondthestadiumislongoverdue.

ChildreninBlackburncheeronEnglandaspartofBritishFuture’s‘#WeAreAllEngland’project

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Beyonda90-minutenationJohnDenhamAlthoughmuchprogresshasbeenmade,EnglishidentityhaslaggedbehindtheinclusivityofBritishness.Asanationalidentity,ratherthanacommunityidentity,EnglishnessmustbeopentoeveryonemakingtheirlivesinEngland.Therearerealdangersifwemakeprogresstooslowly.SporthashadtocarrytoomuchoftheweightofprojectinganinclusiveEnglishness.Itisnowtimeformanyotherorganisationsacrosscivicsociety,politicsandthemediatostepupandsharethisnationalresponsibility.ThischapterexaminesthedevelopmentofEnglishnessasaninclusivenationalidentity,andthenlooksforwardtosuggestsomeprinciplesthatshouldunderlieeffortstoarticulateEnglishnessinadiversenation.EnglandasanationEnglandisanationwithwell-definedboundaries.SinceUKdevolutionithasverylargelyhaditsownseparatedomesticpolicyandlegislationacrosseducationatalllevels,inhealthandsocialcare,intheprovisionofwater,andinmuchoftransport,agricultureandtheenvironment.Ithasnonationaldemocracynormachineryofgovernment–that’sforanotherdiscussion–butitspoliticsandgovernancearedistinctfromtheothernationsoftheunion.Englandisnota‘culturalidea’,butapoliticalandgovernmentalnation.EnglishandBritishidentitiespredominatehere.FouroutoffivesaytheyarestronglyEnglishand,withmuchoverlap,asimilarnumberarestronglyBritish.Mostholdtheseidentitiesproudly.ThereisaslighttilttowardsEnglishnessoverBritishness,witharound35-40%sayingtheyareequallyEnglishandBritish;25%-30%‘moreEnglishthanBritish’;and20-25%‘moreBritishthanEnglish’.Nooneshouldfeelthey‘ought’tohaveaparticularidentity;northataparticularidentityis‘notforthem’.Majorpublicpolicydebatesshouldnotbedistortedbyanysensethatnationalidentitiesareproxiesforotherdivisions.InbuildingstrongandinclusivelocalcommunitiesinEngland,EnglishandBritishmustavailableassharednationalidentities,notstand-insforcommunitarianorethnicidentities.Therehasbeenmuchpositiveprogressbutthereisnoroomforcomplacency.InthecomingyearsEnglandmaywellbecomemorefragmentedbygeography,incomeandeducation.Majorcitiesarerapidlybecomingevermorediverseandthechosenhomeofgraduates.OtherpartsofEnglandarechangingmoreslowly.Anation–ortown–inwhichthesedivisionswerereflectedindifferentnationalidentitieswouldnotbeahappyorcohesiveplace.ItistruethatoverthepasttwentyyearstheextenttowhichanindividualidentifiesasEnglishorBritishhasbecomeassociatedwithdifferentviewsaboutthegovernanceofEnglandandBritain,andEngland’srelationshipwiththeUnionand

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theEU.ButdebatesaboutEngland’sgovernance,thefutureoftheunionandtheUK’srelationshipwithEuropeandtheEUwillragearoundusforsometime.Whateverourviewsonthesequestions,ahealthypoliticalnationneedsbothofEngland’snationalidentitiestobeopentoall.ThecurrentstateofplayBritishnessismorewidelyadoptedbyBAMEresidentsthanEnglishness,butthedifferenceisnotasstarkassomesuggest.3AroundathirdofBAMEresidentsidentifystronglyasEnglishandareproudtodoso.That’shalftherateofthewhitemajoritybutnotaninsignificantnumber.ItdemonstratesthepotentialforEnglishnesstobecomeamuchmoreinclusiveidentity.ThatpotentialisunderlinedbyBritishFuture’smostrecentpollingwhichaskedBAMErespondentsabouttheir‘senseofbelonging’tobothBritainandEngland:theresponsesat30%‘strongly’and35%‘somewhat‘wereidentical.InrecentyearsthemajoritypopulationhasbecomedramaticallymoreopentoadiverseEnglishidentity.Overthe7yearsfrom2012-2109,thenumbersayingthatEnglishwasawhiteidentityfellfromoneinfivetooneintenwiththefallbeingmostmarkedamongstoldervoters4.In2021,asignificantminorityofvisibleethnicminoritiesalreadyidentifyasEnglish.Themajoritypopulation,includingthosewhoemphasisetheirEnglishidentity,aremoreopentoaninclusiveEnglishidentitythaneverbefore.BeforelookingathowtomakeEnglishnessmoreopentoethnicminorities,it’simportanttounderstandwhyBritishnessiscurrentlythemoreinclusiveidentity.Englishness,BritishnessandmulticulturalismAcommonmythclaimsthattheBritishEmpire’scosmopolitanismmakesBritishnessthemorenaturalidentityforminoritiesoriginatingfromformercolonies.Butaslateasthe1980s,BritishidentitywaswidelyseeninEnglandasinherentlyracist,colonialistandimperialist.Today’smoreinclusiveBritishnesswasforgedbythepromotionofBritishmulticulturalismbygrassrootscampaignswithendorsementfromthestateandcivicsociety.Britishmulticulturalismusedasharedlegalcitizenshiptodemandequalrespectandtreatment.Englishnesswasneglectedentirelyandthesurprisemightbethatithaschangedasmuchasithas.(InScotlandandWales,bycontrast,politicalandcivicsocietyfocusedonmakingScottishandWelshidentitiesmoreinclusiveratherthanBritishidentity).

3In201885%ofwhiterespondentsfelt‘strongly’Englishcomparedwith45%ofBAMErespondents.84%ofwhiteresidentswerestronglyBritishcomparedwith73%ofBAMEresidents.61%ofwhiteresidentswere‘proud’tobeEnglish,and32%ofBAMEresidents(Lessthan10%ofeithergroupwouldactuallybeembarrassedtobeEnglish).4PollingbyBritishFutureandCEIP

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AsecondchallengeisthatthosewhostaffEngland’smostinfluentialinstitutionssuchasthecivilservice,academia,themedia,NGOsandculturalorganisationsaresignificantlymorelikelytoemphasiseaBritishratherthananEnglishidentity5.OrganisationsthatcouldbetakingtheleadinpromotinganinclusiveEnglishnessoftenshyawayfromdoingso.Atworsttheymayperpetuatetheworstandmostout-datedstereotypesofEnglishidentity.LookingtothefutureThelessonofBritishness(andScottishandWelshness)isthatnationalidentitiescanbeconsciouslyrefashionedasinclusive,butthatthiswillrequirethecommitmentofeveryorganisationandinstitutionthatengageswithEnglandanditspeople.Thisincludesnon-governmentandcivicsocietygroups,artsandculturalorganisations,themedia,politicalparties,sportingorganisations,andthestateatlocalandnationallevels.Isuggestsevenprinciplestoguidethiswork:

1. AcknowledgetheEnglishdimensiontoourwork.ManyorganisationsthatengagewithEnglandoftenavoidnamingit,using‘thecountry’or‘Britain’oreventheUKwhentalkingonlyaboutEngland.(Nearlyallpoliticalpartiesdothis,forexample).Someorganisationsdescribethemselvesas‘UK’evenwhentheyhaveseparateWelshandScottishbranches.MakingEnglandinvisibleasageographical,policyandorganisationalnationreinforcestheideathatEnglishidentityisaculturalnotanationalidentity.

2. EnsurethatanyvisualrepresentationofEnglandanditspeoplearefullyrepresentativeofEngland’spopulation

A2018survey6foundthatmanyStGeorge’sDayeventspromotedbylocalauthoritiesandevenstate-sponsoredcharitiessuchasEnglishheritageusedoverwhelminglywhiteimagesofactivities.ThisnotonlyreinforcestheideathatEnglishnessisanethniccommunitarianidentitybutexcludesthelargenumberofnon-whitepeoplewhoalreadyidentifystronglyandproudlyasEnglish.

3. Sharingourstoriesintoday’sEnglandAttheheartofanynationalidentityarethestoriesweshareaboutwhoweare,howwecametobehereandwhatwevalueincommon.Englishnessmustbeopentoallwhoaremakingtheirliveshere.OursharedstoriesofEnglandneedtoincludethestoriesofthosepeoplewhosefamiliesmayhavemovedhereintherelativelyrecentpastandthose(someofwhomwillhavetheirownmigrantheritage)whohavelived

5https://www.southampton.ac.uk/ceip/publications/englands-elites-and-the-governance-of-england.page6CEIP/WinchesterUniversity

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inEnglandmuchlonger.Itiseasytounderestimatethepowerofactuallytakingthetimetoshareourstories,whetheratwork,inlocalcommunitiesorinnationalorganisations.

4. Avoiddeliberatelyorinadvertentlypromotingorreinforcinginaccurateorout-datedrepresentationsofEnglishidentity

ItiscommonplacetofindEnglishidentityopenlyassociatedinthemediaandsocialmediawithracism,xenophobia,farrightpolitics,nationalistpolitics,littleEnglandersandthelike.CulturalrepresentationsofEnglishidentityoftenpromotesimilarconceptions.Thesecomenotjustfromfringesourcesbutmainstreampoliticians,prominentcommentatorsandpowerfulculturalinfluencers.ThisunfairmisrepresentationmakesEnglishidentifiersreluctanttosaysoand,ofcourse,makesEnglishnessunattractivetoanyonewhowouldfindsuchvaluesunderstandablythreatening.ExplorationofhistoricandcurrentmanifestationsofEnglishnessis,ofcourse,legitimateandimportant,butthisshouldbedonefairlyandaccurately.

5. FindopportunitiestocelebrateEnglishidentityStGeorge’sDayisoneopportunitytoacknowledgeandcelebrateEnglishidentity(provideditisdoneinclusively).Southampton’sStGeorge’sDayproduceddiscussionmateriallinkedtothePHSEcurriculumasking‘whatmoderndragonsneedslaying’,workedwiththelocalnewspapertorunaStGeorge’scommunityawardwhosenomineescamefromallsectionsofthecommunity,andofferedsmallgrantstoencouragecommunityorganisationstorunStGeorge’sDayevents.SportingeventsprovidemanyotheropportunitiestoensurethattheflagbelongstoallofEngland.OrganisationsthatserveEnglandmightlookforanactivityoreventthatparticularlymarksthatrelationship.EnglishnessshouldnotberestrictedtothosebornherebutbeingborninEnglandisoverwhelminglyacceptedasmakingsomeoneEnglish.This‘birth-right’ofbeingbornEnglishmaybewovenintoallcelebratoryactivities.

6. JointhelocalwiththenationalWorktopromotecohesivecommunitiesoftenfocusesonlocalbelongingandidentity,understandingrightlythandifferentcommunitiesmaysharealocalallegianceevenwherenationalidentitiesdiffer.Buttherearegoodopportunitiestolinkthetwo.AdistinctfeatureofEnglishnessisthatitisusuallyalsoassociatedwithastronglocalidentity.Being‘fromhere’canopenthedoortoEnglishidentitytomany.AndthenewBritishFuturepollingshowsthatBAMErespondentsaremuchmorelikelytoagreethatEnglishidentityisopentotheminareaswheredifferentracesgetalongwelltogetherandtodisagreeinareaswheretheydonot.PromotinganinclusiveEnglishidentitycanbeapositivepartofpromotingacohesivelocalidentity.

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7. AninclusiveEnglishnessbenefitsusall

Forobviousreasons,thefocusofinclusivityisonensuringthatpeopleinEnglandfromanethnicminoritybackgroundfeelthatEnglishnessisfullyopentothem.ButtheBritishFuturedataalsoshowsthatasignificantminorityofwhiteresidentsarenotcertainthattheStGeorgecrossorStGeorge’sDayarefullyopen.SomemayfeeltheyrepresentareactionaryEnglishnessthattheyreject.BybuildinganinclusiveEnglishidentitywecanensurethatEnglishness,includingitssymbolsandcelebrations,arefullyshared.

8. DonotbeafraidofengagingwithEnglishidentity!BecausethestaffingandleadershipofmanyNGOs,artsandculturalinstitutions,academiaandthemedia,aremuchlesslikelytoidentifyasEnglishthanthegeneralpopulation,theseorganisationsoftenlackconfidenceinengagingwithEnglishidentity.ManyinternalisealltheworstmisconceptionsofEnglishnessandfearthattoassociatewithitistoendorsethoseimaginedvalues.Thischallengeneedstoberecognisedandtackled.Asmoreorganisationsdoso,andsharegoodpractice,thecollectiveconfidenceofthesecrucial‘culturalinfluencers’willgrow.WhatnextforEnglishness?ThecontinueddevelopmentofaninclusiveEnglishidentity,opentoall,isessentialtoavertingfutureidentity-baseddivisions.Itisasharedtaskthatcannotbelefttooneorganisationoroneareaofactivity.EveryorganisationthanengageswithEnglandhasaroletoplayand,whilesomewilltaketothismoreeasilythanothers,ourabilitytodosowillgrowasweworktogether.

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