David Blunkett warns uneven cuts risk rise of English nationalism

[Troll's Puzzle]

(page (http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/oct/27/david-blunkett-cuts-english-nationalism))


England faces the rise of virulent nationalism outside the south-east as a result of the government's draconian spending cuts, David Blunkett, the former home secretary, warned tonight.

Predicting that the English Defence League (EDL) was more of a threat than the British National party, he said a new form of English colonialism was emerging during a period when the fabric of society outside the south-east was threatened.
(colonialism, what :mmmm: ? it'd be a reconquesta!)
...
Speaking to the Guardian, Blunkett added that the EDL, which has carried out a series of rallies this year, was trying to exploit the way in which Wales and Scotland received far more in government subsidies than regions such as Yorkshire.
...
He said: "Our civil society – the glue that holds us together and the driving force for being able to assist each other in times of need – will be unable to respond as the years go by.

"It is the fracturing, the tearing, of the social fabric that concerns me most.The fact that we are likely to see a disintegration of the acceptance of responsibility, of the obligations and duties we owe to each other"
(and whose fault is it that it's got that way, you FUCKER?)
The denial that there is such a thing as regional identity pulls the centrifugal force of England into London and alienates those who are hardest hit by the cuts.

"London retains a development agency and demands more resources – and, in capital funding, gets it – as the scarce resources available are pulled like a magnet into the developments for and around the Olympic Games."
...
He claimed many of the engines of regional growth were being dismantled. The business secretary, Vince Cable, confirmed this week that LEPs will have no independent funding. Blunkett told the Guardian: "It is a formula for disaster, a tearing of the social fabric and either a return to the riots of 1981, or the growth of rightwing English nationalism."

He said he was concerned that Labour had, with the exception of Tony Blair, not found a language to address the concerns and anti-statism of the English. He said: "Through the Midlands, the south, the east, and the south-west, the 'anti-state' nature of individualism and an innate conservatism is a powerful force. Outside the culturally diverse and cosmopolitan city of London, the south and east returned just 10 Labour MPs out of over 200 constituencies on 6 May this year."

my message to Blunkett is:
fuck u
you'll get yours (and not see it coming) http://planetsmilies.net/vicious-smiley-1815.gif

[Loki]

Why is English nationalism necessarily a bad thing?

[Liffrea]

Originally Posted by Loki
Why is English nationalism necessarily a bad thing?

The political class can’t ride that horse (if it was genuine).

Scottish and Welsh nationalism is easy, malleable and predictable. Most of these people are easy to manipulate, it’s difficult to see in which direction English nationalism would go.

I’m not convinced by it anyway and the more politicians openly discuss certain things either publicly or through “leaks” the more I’m interested in their motives, English nationalism is a paper tiger. But it is interesting that it is getting more air time.

[Peasant]

Speaking to the Guardian, Blunkett added that the EDL, which has carried out a series of rallies this year, was trying to exploit the way in which Wales and Scotland received far more in government subsidies than regions such as Yorkshire.

Seriously, what the does the EDL have to do with this? I thought they were all about pissing off muzzies and waving their jewy flags.

He must be blind... oh wait a minute...

[SwordoftheVistula]

So, they no longer have money to pay off both the muslims and the chavs

[antonio]

At Spain it's one (rarely used probably by its innherent nastiness) of the arguments against (btw sadly necessary) welfare cuts and the problems of massive inmigration: that they (beyond their direct effects) could cause a rise of "extremist options"(Fascism, Nazims, Nationalism...). In fact, now Im rethinking on it, it's more used on foreign troubled countries than on our nation, obviously because of their revolting nature: mainstream politicians and journalist did not care so much about your problems, as long as you keep on voting and believing us.

[SwordoftheVistula]

At Spain it's one (rarely used probably by its innherent nastiness) of the arguments against (btw sadly necessary) welfare cuts and the problems of massive inmigration: that they (beyond their direct effects) could cause a rise of "extremist options"(Fascism, Nazims, Nationalism...). In fact, now Im rethinking on it, it's more used on foreign troubled countries than on our nation

Ya, we have that here too. Leftwing commentators view every reaction against socialism as 'fascism' or 'nazism', because they project issues related to central Europe onto their home country (which they are often ignorant of)

Here's a good article by one of the more honest liberals which dispels this (in relation to anti-socialist movements in the US): http://www.tnr.com/article/politics/78718/four-myths-about-the-tea-party

[Wyn]

the culturally diverse and cosmopolitan city of London

One of the more polite ways of describing London.

The EDL can hardly be called nationalist anyway. In fact I believe a leader or some such said they are not anti-immigration etc.

[antonio]

At Spain it's one (rarely used probably by its innherent nastiness) of the arguments against (btw sadly necessary) welfare cuts and the problems of massive inmigration: that they (beyond their direct effects) could cause a rise of "extremist options"(Fascism, Nazims, Nationalism...). In fact, now Im rethinking on it, it's more used on foreign troubled countries than on our nation, obviously because of their revolting nature: mainstream politicians and journalist did not care so much about your problems, as long as you keep on voting and believing THEM.

[Albion]

The political class can’t ride that horse (if it was genuine).

Scottish and Welsh nationalism is easy, malleable and predictable. Most of these people are easy to manipulate, it’s difficult to see in which direction English nationalism would go.

I’m not convinced by it anyway and the more politicians openly discuss certain things either publicly or through “leaks” the more I’m interested in their motives, English nationalism is a paper tiger. But it is interesting that it is getting more air time.

English nationalism hasn't got enough strength yet, the English on the whole still cling to the union because they see "Britain" and "England" as synonymous near enough (the general public do anyway).

I support self-government for England, but I'm uncertain about whether I want England to go all the way and gain independence, probably in the long run yes I would support it, but not at the moment.