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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Ed Miliband: Labour 'too reluctant' to talk about English national identity | Ed Miliband: Labour 'too reluctant' to talk about English national identity |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Ed Miliband is to suggest that Labour has been "too reluctant" to talk about Englishness and the issue of national identity should not be a "closed book". | |
| In a speech in London, the Labour leader will argue that his party has been "nervous" to talk about what it means to be English and celebrate it. | |
| Expressing national identity should strengthen the case for the United Kingdom not undermine it, he will add. | Expressing national identity should strengthen the case for the United Kingdom not undermine it, he will add. |
| However, he will say calls for an English Parliament are "simplistic". | However, he will say calls for an English Parliament are "simplistic". |
| The excitement around the recent Diamond Jubilee celebrations and the Olympic Games later this summer mean it is a good time to "reflect on who we are as a country", the Labour leader will say. | The excitement around the recent Diamond Jubilee celebrations and the Olympic Games later this summer mean it is a good time to "reflect on who we are as a country", the Labour leader will say. |
| In his most direct attempt since becoming opposition leader to address the future of the UK - and drawing heavily on his own family history - Mr Miliband will say those seeking to break up the union are offering a "false choice" and a "narrow view" of national identity. | In his most direct attempt since becoming opposition leader to address the future of the UK - and drawing heavily on his own family history - Mr Miliband will say those seeking to break up the union are offering a "false choice" and a "narrow view" of national identity. |
| 'Multiple allegiances' | 'Multiple allegiances' |
| Describing himself as the "son of a Jewish refugee", who grew up in London but spent time in Yorkshire and is an MP there, Mr Miliband will say Britain should be a country "where it always possible to have more than one identity" and people should not have to choose between being British, English, Scottish or Welsh. | Describing himself as the "son of a Jewish refugee", who grew up in London but spent time in Yorkshire and is an MP there, Mr Miliband will say Britain should be a country "where it always possible to have more than one identity" and people should not have to choose between being British, English, Scottish or Welsh. |
| But he will say that "multiple allegiances" raise serious questions about national identity and he will acknowledge that Labour has shied away from trying to articulate a vision of Englishness in recent times. | But he will say that "multiple allegiances" raise serious questions about national identity and he will acknowledge that Labour has shied away from trying to articulate a vision of Englishness in recent times. |
| "We in the Labour Party have been too reluctant to talk about England in recent years. We have concentrated on shaping a new politics for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland," he will say. | "We in the Labour Party have been too reluctant to talk about England in recent years. We have concentrated on shaping a new politics for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland," he will say. |
| "But some people in England felt Labour's attention had turned away - that something was holding us back from celebrating England too. That we were too nervous to talk of English pride and English character, connecting it to the kind of nationalism that had left us ill at ease." | "But some people in England felt Labour's attention had turned away - that something was holding us back from celebrating England too. That we were too nervous to talk of English pride and English character, connecting it to the kind of nationalism that had left us ill at ease." |
| 'Proudly English' | 'Proudly English' |
| While arguing that symbols of national identity such as the Union flag and the flag of St George had been "reclaimed" from extremists in recent decades, Mr Miliband will suggest the left in British politics has tended to neglect the issue of English national identity. | While arguing that symbols of national identity such as the Union flag and the flag of St George had been "reclaimed" from extremists in recent decades, Mr Miliband will suggest the left in British politics has tended to neglect the issue of English national identity. |
| "For too long, people have believed that to express English identity is to undermine the union. At the same time, we have rightly helped express Scottish identity within the union. This does not make sense. You can be proudly Scottish and British and you can be proudly English and British as I am. | "For too long, people have believed that to express English identity is to undermine the union. At the same time, we have rightly helped express Scottish identity within the union. This does not make sense. You can be proudly Scottish and British and you can be proudly English and British as I am. |
| "Now more than ever, as we make the case for the United Kingdom throughout the United Kingdom, we must talk about England." | "Now more than ever, as we make the case for the United Kingdom throughout the United Kingdom, we must talk about England." |
| Labour lost support in England, particularly in the south of the country and the Midlands, at the 2010 general election. | Labour lost support in England, particularly in the south of the country and the Midlands, at the 2010 general election. |
| Critics blamed the setbacks on the party's failure, while in government, to adequately address issues of concern to lower and middle income areas such as the decline in manufacturing, a shortage of blue-collar jobs and the impact on communities of immigration. | Critics blamed the setbacks on the party's failure, while in government, to adequately address issues of concern to lower and middle income areas such as the decline in manufacturing, a shortage of blue-collar jobs and the impact on communities of immigration. |
| Labour has since regained control of a host of councils in the south of England although they were defeated by Respect's George Galloway in the recent Bradford West by-election. | |
| Scottish campaign | Scottish campaign |
| The draft of Mr Miliband's speech contains no specific reference to the issue of a separate English Parliament - a key demand of centre-right parties such as the UK Independence Party and the English Democrats. | |
| But Labour sources suggested that although Mr Miliband was keen to continue devolving powers to local authorities, he believed calls for an England-only legislature to mirror those in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland were "simplistic constitutional symmetry". | But Labour sources suggested that although Mr Miliband was keen to continue devolving powers to local authorities, he believed calls for an England-only legislature to mirror those in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland were "simplistic constitutional symmetry". |
| Supporters of Scottish independence, led by First Minister Alex Salmond, launched their campaign last month for a yes vote in a referendum due in 2014, saying Scotland would be "greener, fairer and more prosperous" as a result. | Supporters of Scottish independence, led by First Minister Alex Salmond, launched their campaign last month for a yes vote in a referendum due in 2014, saying Scotland would be "greener, fairer and more prosperous" as a result. |
| Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats all oppose such a move, saying the UK will always be stronger as the sum of its constituent parts. | Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats all oppose such a move, saying the UK will always be stronger as the sum of its constituent parts. |
| Prime Minister David Cameron has vowed to campaign strongly for Scotland to stay within the union. In a speech last year, he was criticised for calling for an end to "state multiculturalism" and arguing the UK needed a stronger national identity to stop people turning to extremism. | Prime Minister David Cameron has vowed to campaign strongly for Scotland to stay within the union. In a speech last year, he was criticised for calling for an end to "state multiculturalism" and arguing the UK needed a stronger national identity to stop people turning to extremism. |