Knowra English nationalism English nationalism English nationalism is a political movement and ideology that promotes England’s distinct national identity, interests, and self-government. Its forms range from cultural advocacy to demands for constitutional change or independence.
Kingdom of England : A state that existed from the tenth century until its political union with Scotland in 1707. The historical kingdom supplies the political identity that English nationalism seeks to distinguish from Britain.
English devolution : The transfer of political powers from the United Kingdom government to institutions governing England or its regions. It offers a route to greater English self-government without necessarily seeking independence.
John Bull : A personification of England, commonly depicted as a stout, middle-aged man in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century political art. The figure embodies a popular, sometimes conservative image of English national character.
Scottish nationalism : A political movement promoting Scotland’s national identity and, in many forms, its independence from the United Kingdom. Its successful institutional and electoral expression contrasts with England’s weaker national political structures.
English Democrats : An English political party founded in 2002 that campaigns for an English Parliament and greater English self-government. The party has attempted to turn English constitutional demands into an electoral platform.
Acts of Union 1707 : Legislation that united the kingdoms of England and Scotland as the Kingdom of Great Britain. The union joined England to a British state, creating a lasting tension between English and British identities.
English votes for English laws : A former House of Commons procedure restricting some votes on England-only matters to English MPs. It addressed the perceived imbalance in which non-English MPs could vote on England-only legislation.
Enoch Powell : A British politician and classical scholar known for nationalist rhetoric and opposition to postwar immigration. His speeches linked English identity, national sovereignty, and anxieties about immigration.
Welsh nationalism : A political movement promoting Welsh national identity, self-government, and, for some supporters, independence. Its focus on a distinct language and national institutions differs from England’s more entangled British identity.
United Kingdom European Union membership referendum : The 2016 referendum in which voters chose whether the United Kingdom should remain in or leave the European Union. Its Leave campaign connected sovereignty and English identity, though support for Brexit was not exclusively nationalist.
Show all 27