Does Labour need a “revived politics of Englishness”

By Mark Ferguson / @markfergusonuk

In an article today for the New Statesman, David Miliband has discussed the idea of Englishness, and what it means for the future of the Labour Party.

As we discussed last week on LabourList, Labour remains strong in the North. However, as Miliband points out:

“If Labour is to avoid becoming a regional or sectional party, we need to confront the task of winning back our support among working-class and middle-income voters across England.”

The article is engaging – clearly inspired by the sense of Englishness that pervades the national psyche when England are playing in the World Cup – and rightly points out that Labour must become strong in England again if we are to become a party of government again:

“If Labour is going to gain support outside its metropolitan heartlands and aspire to government again, it needs to speak for England and identify with its traditions and values. In four years’ time, as the English football team lifts the World Cup in Brazil, Labour needs to be leading that national conversation.”

David uses the article as an opportunity to reject the “Britishness” agenda favoured by Gordon Brown. No doubt Brown found this useful as a Scottish Prime Minister, but Miliband certainly seems to feel unencumbered by any similar feelings, being, in many ways, quintessentially English.

He also asserts that the party is “too centralised, too London-dominated”. This is certainly something that many Labour members outside of the capital (and many activists inside the capital) have felt for a long time, and it’s good to hear leadership candidates saying such things.

Personally, I have always considered myself British – but I certainly don’t see anything wrong with the notion of “Englishness”, and I appreciate its political potency. However, I can’t help but feel that when Miliband suggests this as an answer to our electoral failures, he’s trying to treat a symptom – rather than a disease.

Next week, LabourList will host a feature day on national identity in the run up to the end of the World Cup – which will give us a chance to explore this vexed issue further.

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