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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
(40 minutes 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. Ed Miliband says Labour has been "too reluctant" to talk about Englishness and the issue of national identity should not be a "closed book".
Expressing national identity should strengthen the case for the United Kingdom not undermine it, he will add. In a speech in London, the Labour leader argued that his party had been too "nervous" to talk about what it meant to be English, and celebrate it.
However, he will say calls for an English Parliament are "simplistic". Expressing national identity should strengthen the case for the United Kingdom not undermine it, he argued.
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. But he rejected calls for an English Parliament as too "simplistic".
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. The excitement around the recent Diamond Jubilee celebrations and the Olympic Games later this summer meant it was a good time to "reflect on who we are as a country", the Labour leader said.
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 said those seeking to break up the union were 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 said 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.
Mr Miliband's speech is designed both as a defence of the Union and a message to his own party.Mr Miliband's speech is designed both as a defence of the Union and a message to his own party.
He hopes that, by encouraging English voters to be more confident and relaxed about expressing their culture and identity, he will engage them in the debate about the future of the UK.He hopes that, by encouraging English voters to be more confident and relaxed about expressing their culture and identity, he will engage them in the debate about the future of the UK.
He is concerned that indifference among English voters about valuing the Union may encourage Scots to vote for independence.He is concerned that indifference among English voters about valuing the Union may encourage Scots to vote for independence.
But his speech is also designed as a deliberate contrast to Gordon Brown's emphasis on 'Britishness'.But his speech is also designed as a deliberate contrast to Gordon Brown's emphasis on 'Britishness'.
For too long, Mr Miliband believes, Labour has been reluctant to talk about England.For too long, Mr Miliband believes, Labour has been reluctant to talk about England.
The party has been happy to stress its Welsh and Scottish roots while being unwilling to celebrate its English working class traditions and history.The party has been happy to stress its Welsh and Scottish roots while being unwilling to celebrate its English working class traditions and history.
But Mr Miliband rejects the idea of an English Parliament - he is calling for a change in attitudes, not the Constitution.But Mr Miliband rejects the idea of an English Parliament - he is calling for a change in attitudes, not the Constitution.
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 said "multiple allegiances" raised serious questions about national identity and he acknowledged that Labour had 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 said.
"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."
Mr Miliband will claim symbols of national identity such as the Union flag and the flag of St George had been "reclaimed" from extremists in recent decades - but suggest the left in British politics has tended to neglect the issue of English national identity. Mr Miliband claimed symbols of national identity such as the Union flag and the flag of St George had been "reclaimed" from extremists in recent decades - but suggested the left in British politics had tended to neglect the issue of the 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."
He will also take a swipe at Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson, who said in a recent newspaper column that breaking up the Union "would be as sad as waving goodbye to a much loved, if slightly violent, family pet". He also took a swipe at Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson, who said in a recent newspaper column that breaking up the Union "would be as sad as waving goodbye to a much loved, if slightly violent, family pet".
Mr Miliband will say: "In Scotland, the narrow nationalists of the SNP pose a false choice. They ask: are you Scottish or British? I say you can be both. Mr Miliband said: "In Scotland, the narrow nationalists of the SNP pose a false choice. They ask: are you Scottish or British? I say you can be both.
"And here in England there are people like Jeremy Clarkson who shrug their shoulders at the prospect of the break-up of the Union."And here in England there are people like Jeremy Clarkson who shrug their shoulders at the prospect of the break-up of the Union.
"A narrow view of identity would mean concern for the young unemployed in Scotland does not reach Newcastle or that we in England would care less for the pensioner in Edinburgh. What a deeply pessimistic vision."A narrow view of identity would mean concern for the young unemployed in Scotland does not reach Newcastle or that we in England would care less for the pensioner in Edinburgh. What a deeply pessimistic vision.
"It's a mistake wherever you find it. Having to say: Scottish or British, Welsh or British, English or British. I don't accept any of that. It's always a false choice.""It's a mistake wherever you find it. Having to say: Scottish or British, Welsh or British, English or British. I don't accept any of that. It's always a false choice."
Far rightFar right
Mr Miliband recently appointed Dagenham and Rainham MP Jon Cruddas, who was heavily involved in Labour's campaign to defeat the BNP in the East End of London and has called for an English national anthem, as his policy chief.Mr Miliband recently appointed Dagenham and Rainham MP Jon Cruddas, who was heavily involved in Labour's campaign to defeat the BNP in the East End of London and has called for an English national anthem, as his policy chief.
Mr Cruddas has argued that Labour needs to reclaim English patriotism from the far right. Mr Cruddas has argued that Labour needs to reclaim English patriotism from the far right and Mr Miliband praised his efforts to rediscover Labour's English working class roots.
The draft of Mr Miliband's speech contains no specific reference to the issue of a separate English Parliament - a key demand of parties such as the UK Independence Party and the English Democrats. But the Labour leader rejected calls for an English Parliament, to mirror assemblies in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, a key demand of 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 it was too "simplistic" to set up an England-only Parliament to mirror those in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. He said: "I don't detect a longing for more politicians among the people of England, or among the people of the rest of the United Kingdom.
"For me, it's not about an English Parliament or an English Assembly. The English people don't yearn for simplistic constitutional symmetry. Our minds don't work in spreadsheets, just like our streets don't follow grids."
He spoke instead of the need to continue devolving powers to English local authorities and away from London.
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.