My father was a big fan of Flanders and Swann who had a great hit in the 1960s with a West End show called ‘At the drop of a Hat’. They went on to compose some wonderful songs which still echo in my head today. One of the best is their ‘Song of Patriotic Prejudice’ with lyrics for the chorus set out in the title to this piece. Here is the YouTube link which is well worth a listen.
The clip shows the brilliance of both of them. Swann was the musician and Flanders (father of the former BBC Economics Editor Stephanie Flanders) was the wordsmith and entertainer. The song was written in a different era with different tolerances; but post the 2016 UK EU Referendum, its words of prejudice towards other nations seem just as relevant today. The question has to be asked about what the English think of themselves today some 50 years on.
Mark Easton, the BBC Home Affairs Editor, has set out to provide the answer. In a recent survey, the nation’s attitudes to the English question was very revealing indeed. The St George’s flag makes a special appearance around World Cups and I am sure this time round will be no exception – and why not? The fact is that we are divided in our attitudes towards Englishness whether or not we support the England football team.
On the one hand there are those who cannot understand why some are a little reserved when it comes to their English identity. These people are proud of their Englishness and they look back with nostalgia to what they perceive to be a “better time”. They are likely to believe in strong national identities and have a particular understanding of the sovereign state, which I would say is probably not realistic in a modern global world ruled by the internet and multinational corporations.
The other view (and you know where I am coming from despite my age) is that the perception of the psyche of the English nationalists is such that those who hold an alternative world view (you might say “a global outlook”) are possibly embarrassed to be associated with ideas of nationalism. These groups may believe in a multicultural and global world where national boundaries are largely irrelevant. They are more likely to identify with “Remain” and Europe as a whole. They do not look back but forward to a more integrated, interconnected and liberal world where people do not draw back into their shells but seek to communicate and understand. They are proud of British influence in Europe and wider on issues to do with the rule of law and human rights, but this appears to have little in common with the view of England by the other group.
The values and ethos of any business is vital to its health. As a law firm we believe in values of justice, fairness and the rule of law. We will do all we can to promote them and help those present in our society from wherever they come in the world. I am really pleased to say that Liverpool and Manchester are forward looking cities and much improved by the diverse influences of new residents over the past 50 years. Long may this diversity flourish and may that be the hallmark of the English.