English nationalism

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England's (in red) location within the United Kingdom along with Republic of Ireland

English nationalism is the name given to a nationalist political movement in England that demands self-government for England, via a devolved English Parliament. Some English nationalists go further, and seek the re-establishment of an independent sovereign state of England, via the dissolution of the United Kingdom. England is the only constituent country of the United Kingdom and the only Home Nation of the British Isles currently lacking a devolved administrative government or assembly, although the Greater London region has similar powers. A referendum was held in 2004 over whether to grant such a status to North East England, as the first of a plan to implement similar regional assemblies across the country; after the vote was defeated, similar plans in other regions were cancelled.

1 History
2 Opinion polls
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

[edit] History

The English nationalist movement has its roots in a perception amongst many people in England that they are English, rather than (or merely before) being British.^{[citation needed]} Furthermore, it can be seen as a reaction to the establishment of devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and in other historic European nations, such as Catalonia and Flanders, which is compared to the regionalisation of England since 1994, under both John Major and Tony Blair.^{[citation needed]} Particularly of importance to the debate on recent devolution elsewhere in the United Kingdom is the West Lothian question, that is, the situation in which Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish Members of Parliament would be able to vote on English laws without those laws having an impact upon their own constituencies. Although it has lacked a parliament or government of its own since the Acts of Union 1707, many English people still regard their nation to be a country in its own right and not merely a constituent part of the United Kingdom.^{[citation needed]} It is interesting to note that most English nationalist groups and parties are on the right of the political spectrum often being "euro-sceptic" at the same time; this contrasts with the "Celtic" nationalist movements in the UK which tend towards a centre-left, pro-European stance.^[1] The apparent aversion to the European Union by English nationalist groups stems from their belief that England is being subdivided into regions at the behest of the European Union.^[2] English Nationalism is opposed by nationalist interests in Cornwall, which believe their area has a distinct identity and where there is a Cornish self-government movement, and by British unionists who believe in the continued political Union between the constituent countries of the United Kingdom.

[edit] Opinion polls

Logo of the Campaign for an English Parliament

A MORI opinion poll commissioned jointly by the English Democrats and the Campaign for an English Parliament under the English Constitutional Convention Banner indicated that support for the creation of an English Parliament with the same powers as the existing Scottish Parliament had risen, with 41% of those questioned favouring such a move.^[3]

In the same month an ICM Omnibus poll commissioned by the Progressive Partnership (a Scottish research organisation) showed that support for full English Independence had reached 31% of those questioned.^[4]

In November 2006, another ICM poll commissioned by the Sunday Telegraph, showed that support for an English Parliament had reached 68% and support for full English Independence had reached 48% of those questioned.^[5]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

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