Politics · United Kingdom · 1 hr ago
MPs call for English identity options across census ethnic groups
Cross-party MPs are backing a bill to let people in England identify as English whatever their ethnic background.
The current census offers “English” only under the “White” category, while people in other groups can select options such as “Asian or Asian British.”
About 5 million people in England and Wales who were born in the UK are from minority ethnic backgrounds.
The proposal follows comments by Reform UK MP Suella Braverman, who said she did not consider herself ethnically English because of her South Asian heritage.
The bill would add an English option to every ethnic group in future censuses in England, its supporters say.
MPs are due to back the bill on Tuesday, but bills introduced through this short procedure rarely become law.
Senior MPs are calling for future censuses in England to let people in every ethnic group identify as English.
A bill promoted by Liberal Democrat president Josh Babarinde would change the ethnic group question.
The MPs say the current form offers “English” only within the “White” category.
The campaign follows remarks by Reform UK MP Suella Braverman that she does not consider herself ethnically English because of her south Asian heritage.
- Who
- Liberal Democrat president Josh Babarinde and a cross-party group of MPs are backing the change.
- What
- They want future censuses in England to let respondents in every ethnic group identify as English.
- When
- MPs are due to back Babarinde’s bill on Tuesday.
- Where
- England’s census.
- Why
- The MPs say the current options do not allow people in some ethnic groups to describe themselves as English.
Census-change advocates
Suella Braverman
English identity
Census-change advocates
The MPs say people in every ethnic group should be able to identify as English.
Suella Braverman
Braverman says Englishness is an ethnicity and that she does not consider herself ethnically English because of her south Asian heritage.
Census options
Census-change advocates
The MPs want future census forms in England to offer an English identity option in every ethnic group.
Suella Braverman
Not stated
Suella Braverman said she did not consider herself ethnically English because of her south Asian heritage.
The Guardian reported that Josh Babarinde was launching the cross-party campaign.
MPs are due to back Babarinde’s 10-minute rule bill.
- Bill sponsor
- Josh Babarinde
- Bill type
- 10-minute rule bill
- Current census option
- English” appears only within the “White” category in England.
- UK-born minority ethnic population
- About 11% of the UK-born population in England and Wales, or about 5 million people
- Other census examples
- Scottish Asian” and “Black Welsh” options are offered in Scotland and Wales.
What people are saying
I’m a proud Englishman and Englishness is about more than the colour of your skin
This is about bringing people together around our shared Englishness
Englishness is an ethnicity. There have been English people for centuries and we need to recognise this more if we are to start taking a more muscular approach to citizenship and nationality. And no, it’s not racist to say this.
So in my view, Ashley Cole is English.