Unraveling Identity: The English Quandary in Herefordshire
The revelation unveils the count of those associating themselves with being English in Herefordshire.
As the 23rd of April approaches, St George’s Day commemorates England’s patron saint and the rich tapestry of the nation’s history.
Yet, the most recent population survey by the Office for National Statistics, covering the past year, indicates that a mere 43 percent of England’s population self-identifies as English.
Within the questionnaire, respondents are free to mark multiple boxes from the array of identities: British, English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish, or ‘other.’
In Herefordshire, the figure stands at 52 percent for those embracing the English identity, marking a decline from 56 percent in the period leading to June 2016, preceding the Brexit plebiscite.
This statistic echoes the sentiment of a decade ago, holding steady at 50 percent in 2004.
Nationally, the trend reveals a gradual decline in individuals identifying themselves as English over the past decade.
In the period leading to June 2016, 52 percent voiced their Englishness, climbing marginally to 54 percent in 2013, albeit standing at a lofty 59 percent in 2004.
Sunder Katwala, steering the helm of the British Future think tank, advocates for an inclusive celebration of English identity beyond the realm of sporting spectacles.
He opines, “The flux in people’s sense of Englishness is palpable. One witnesses a surge in England flags during the Euros in June, only to witness their gradual disappearance thereafter. Embracing our English identity collectively could foster unity.”
However, the Centre for English Identity and Politics at the University of Southampton casts skepticism on the findings.
Professor John Denham, the institute’s director, underscores the tendency of individuals to singularly identify themselves, despite harboring multifaceted identities.
Drawing from the British Social Attitudes Survey, Denham highlights a surge in individuals identifying as both English and British, albeit a subdued rise in those leaning towards Britishness over Englishness.
In Herefordshire, 48 percent of people align with British identity, lagging behind the national average of 57 percent.