Will 1914 matter in 2014? Nobody who experienced the war is still alive. Most of us struggle to recall more than the most basic facts about what happened and why. Yet, the first great global conflict remains a pivotal cultural reference point for understanding the last century and how it shaped the country we have become today.
In our report, Do mention the war, we highlight these points and more. Do mention the war draws on original research into what the public know and don’t know about the first world war, why they think next year’s centenary will matter and what they want it to be about.
The report features polling carried out for British Future by YouGov, which found that Britons struggle to tell the first world war and the second world war apart. For example, more people think Britain declared war in August 1914 because Germany invaded Poland (as was the case in 1939) than Belgium: only 13% knew the right answer.
Drawing on public workshops in England, Scotland and Wales, alongside the new national polling, the report also reveals why most people think we should seize this chance to learn, and explores which meanings of the centenary people agree on and which ones don’t.
Other highlights of Do mention the war include:
Matt Goodwin's candidacy in Denton & Gorton "illuminates the balance of risks & rewards for Reform, presenting itself as a potential govt, in embracing the sharper edges of the online right." Our @sundersays for @TheNewWorldmag [1/2]
Moving the goalposts on ‘earned settlement’ is a risky gamble for this government – @sundersays writes for @EasternEye [1/2]
"It is important to have an open and frank debate about immigration and integration," writes @sundersays on Jim Ratcliffe's 'colonised' comments. "It helps no-one when public voices use inflammatory language." [1/2]
A new British South Asian Bridgers Project is bringing together and supporting the ‘bridging’ voices who are working to build inter-community connection and defuse tensions among the UK’s largest ethnic minority group. [1/5]
Starmer's future remains uncertain – but "it may be a few months yet before we find out who governs Britain for the remaining three years of this parliament," writes
@sundersays for @easterneye
Changes at Number Ten, but Starmer’s future remains uncertain
Most of the Westminster commentariat predict that Starmer will prove to be a caretaker prime minister on borrowed time
www.easterneye.biz
Remember, you only hav until next Tues, 10 Feb, to apply for the Windrush Day 2026 Grant Scheme - details below
"It is welcome, if overdue, that the PM has set out a positive vision for cohesion... What needs to follow is a clear plan to turn these words into sustained action," writes our @sundersays [1/2]
"No, the public is not irredeemably ignorant," writes @sarahoconnor_ in the @FT – citing data from our @britishfuture immigration attitudes tracker on misperceptions about immigration [1/2]
Our @sundersays welcomes @MayorofLondon Sadiq Khan making "a more confident case for controlled immigration – and the economic and social contribution that it can make," in his @easterneye column [1/2]
How do efforts to build community cohesion respond to today's febrile geopolitical and national context?
This week's @sundersays column for @easterneye
In Britain’s new year of anxiety, cohesion is no longer optional
A stronger, shared vision would help, despite some anxiety about how far national leaders and institutions have the public standing to narrate it
www.easterneye.biz
