HOPE not hate blog: The book

The book

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Sunday, 26 September 2010, 18:28

Jon Cruddas

Jon Cruddas let the cat out of the bag on Sky News this morning by announcing that he is writing a book about Identity, Englishness and class. What he didn't say was that he is writing the book with me.

A lot of people have looked at the rise of the BNP, and nationalism generally, in terms of failings of public policy, economic deprivation and New Labour. Few have looked at it from the perspective of the crisis of English identity, particularly in those communities which have suffered most with de-industrialisation. In our view the BNP, and now the EDL, are engaging in a cultural war and giving a new sense of white nationalist identity to many people.

And it is not just a problem for Labour. With some on the right looking enviously at the Tea Party movement in the US there is much talk about the prospects of a new nationalist movement – or even party – to the right of the Conservative Party but not as extreme as the BNP.

Posted: 26 Sep 2010 | There are 5 comments

Comments

Comment 1 | From: Tom | Date: 26 September 2010, 18:48

"...there is much talk about the prospects of a new nationalist movement - or even party - to the right of the Conservative Party but not as extreme as the BNP." UKIP?

Comment 2 | From: Byrnsweord- http://byrnsweord.wordpress.com/ | Date: 26 September 2010, 19:21

As a blogger whose primary focus is Englishness and the presentation of Englishness in the media, by politicians and by ordinary people, I look forward to this publication. I sincerely hope it is an objective analysis, and not tainted by strains of self-loathing.

Comment 3 | From: David Geary | Date: 26 September 2010, 20:26

Having grown up in Dagenham to Irish parents and living in an Irish catholic community me and my mates were always having to endure being too English for the Irish with our cockney accents and too Irish for the English because of the way we loved singing Irish songs and celebrating St.Patricks day.Still nice to know everyone else celebrates paddy's day now!

Comment 4 | From: tally | Date: 26 September 2010, 21:11

I don't think the crisis is with English Idendity, it is British Identity that is in crisis. The problem lies with the establishment conflating England and Britain to suit their own ends.

Comment 5 | From: jill | Date: 1 October 2010, 11:05

We need to reclaim both the Union Flag and the flag of St George as signs of national identity not nationalism. It also strikes me that the areas where the BNP and their ilk see the most success are on the border of integrated areas - where they can spread their lies about what will happen if other races get in, not in the areas where integration happens where people realise that the BNP are talking rubbish. We also need to educate and split the phrase Muslim Extremist - people needto understand not all Muslims are extremist, and not all extremists are Muslim. The Media and Tony Blair's Government post 9/11 played a big part in that.

You can comment on this article here (All fields required)

| top | back | home |

Share |

There are 286 BNP and far-right candidates entered into our database, we have results for 284 of them. The last record was added on Sat, 05 May 2012 17:04:09 +0100

Connect with HOPE not hate