The General Election in Scotland this year is probably the least predictable the nation has ever seen – and the contest in the 59 Scottish constituencies could play a significant role in deciding who governs Britain.
A new study by British Future shows that the media, government and public bodies have set the right tone for the First World War centenary, and an appetite remains to learn more about Britain’s history.
Scotland thought seriously about whether to end the United Kingdom - and chose to mend and save it instead. England must also now find its voice, writes Sunder Katwala.
The referendum in Scotland is shaping up to be a nail-biter. Scotland will, quite rightly, get whatever the majority of Scots want. While the margin will be tighter than many expected, writes Sunder Katwala, that still looks like the Union.
The British public do not see international students studying in the UK as “immigrants”, and do not want the number coming here reduced, even if this would make it harder to reduce overall immigration numbers, according to new research by Universities UK and British Future, writes Joe Cryer.
The installation ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’, designed by ceramic artist Paul Cummins, which commemorates those fallen during the First World War already covers a huge swathe of the Tower of London’s dry moat, writes Joe Cryer.
Cultural polarisation over attitudes to immigration could generate long-term political headaches for politicians who adopt a tough anti-immigration agenda in search of public support, writes Sunder Katwala.
More couples are bridging the Protestant-Catholic divide than ever before, but many remain unwilling to talk about it, writes Jemimah Steinfeld.
"I'm somewhat unusual in that I come from a Catholic nationalist background, but I'm British and very much a Unionist," says Stephen Goss from Belfast.
On Saturday 19th October British Future and IPPR are co-hosting a "Festival of Englishness" to address a question which is becoming increasingly central to the Britain's national conversation: who defines themselves as English and what does it mean when they do? Featuring top political thinkers and figures from English culture, sport and comedy, "England, my England: A festival of Englishness" will examine exactly what English identity means today and what its implications are for people in this country.
Are you a Grumpy Nostalgic or part of team Jam and Jerusalem? Are you a Northern Soul or a Post-National Cosmopolitan? In an article in the Observer, Sunder Katwala outlines the main tribes that reflect our attitudes towards Modern Britain. They divide along various lines according to criteria such as class, place and age, but significantly unite at other points. It is this unity which says a lot about the country today and which should be built upon, writes Katwala.
As Andy Murray broke the most unwanted record in tennis, 77 years without a British men’s champion, there has been a lot of debate about how much of a British victory this was. However, the statistics highlight that all corners of the UK were united behind Murray, not just Scotland, writes Douglas Jefferson.
One of the most pressing issues today is the sheer amount of young people in need of employment. Since the recession, the rate of people aged 16 to 25 not in work has been steadily increasing, with over 979,000 young people unemployed nationwide between December 2012 and February 2013. The north-east has the highest rates of youth unemployment. What then can be done to help today’s youth, asks Next Generation thinker Matilda Neill.
The black Muslim community is experiencing the highest levels of prejudice in the country, Professor Anthony Heath told a meeting at the House of Commons.
Tracing family history, and hearing about the stories of soldiers in the world wars is just part of the Firepower Royal Artillery Museum, says Doug Jefferson.
In light of antisemitism incidents in France, and new British polling on discrimination, Jemimah Steinfeld investigates the French Jewish community in the UK.
When Stephen Lawrence died on that tragic evening of April 22 1993, I was merely three years old. Yet the legacy of his death reverberated throughout her formative years and continues to plague the police force, writes 23-year-old Promise Campbell.
Britain is a fairer and less racist country than it was when Stephen Lawrence was murdered 20 years ago. But there is good sense, too, in the public wariness of over-claiming how much has changed, says Sunder Katwala.
"I actually desperately wish that central government had a better understanding of the need for, at a local level, for there to be better provisions for young people out of school, said one speaker at our recent debate in Eltham.
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2014: reviewing a year when identity mattered
2014 was a year when national identities mattered. Here is a round-up of the key events, with links to British Future's main contributions to public debates.
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Tags: 2014, Britain, Englishness, immigration, national identity, Scotland, sport