If English nationalism is on the rise, no one has told the English

The concept of English nationalism is largely a myth, with identity barely changing and support for an English parliament remaining a minority pursuit. Nationalism flourishes when people feel thwarted, but England usually gets what it wants, so there is no need for nationalism. Englishness has a wea

April 20, 2023 . 11:18 PM

1 min read

The rise of English identity is largely a myth, according to political scientist Sir John Curtice.
The proportion of British people identifying as predominantly or only English has barely changed, falling from 31% to 22% between 1999 and 2020.
Support for an English parliament remains a minority pursuit, with only a fifth of English voters backing one.
Nationalism flourishes when people feel thwarted, but England usually gets what it wants, so there is no need for nationalism.
Englishness has a weak hold on Britain, with the concept poorly defined and no fanfare around St George's Day.