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REVIEW: Adult Supervision pokes serious fun at idea of ‘beige Britain’

REVIEW: Adult Supervision pokes serious fun at idea of ‘beige Britain’ Date: 9 October 2013

As a single white man in my twenties, going to see a play about four mothers dealing with their children, relationships and mixed race families was not something I thought I was going to relate to. But thanks to a healthy injection of humour and some sharp social commentary about the UK in general, Adult Supervision had myself and everyone else in the audience engrossed and laughing from start to finish, writes Douglas Jefferson.

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Which British tribe do you belong to?

Which British tribe do you belong to? Date: 8 October 2013

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.

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English and Scots differ over Europe, says Redwood

English and Scots differ over Europe, says Redwood Date: 4 October 2013

English identity has become a much more inclusive and welcoming identity, but different attitudes towards Europe now form one of the major differences between English and Scottish nationalism, said Conservative MP John Redwood at today’s Englishness festival.

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Conservative conference fringe: how to win in a changing Britain?

Conservative conference fringe: how to win in a changing Britain? Date: 1 October 2013

The Conservative Party will never win their first majority in a quarter-century unless they attract new support. This will have to come from new voters whom they traditionally haven’t thought were with them or like them. This challenge, of reaching and winning the support of such voters – in the north, in cities, among young people and ethnic minorities – was discussed at the “Future majority: how can the Tories win in a changing Britain?” event at the Conservative Party Conference, writes Steve Ballinger.

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Minority vote is a prize worth fighting for

Minority vote is a prize worth fighting for Date: 30 September 2013

New research published by British Future and ConservativeHome projects that David Cameron could have secured an additional 500,000 votes and formed a majority government in 2010 if he had appealed to ethnic minority voters. Steve Ballinger offers analysis.

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Labour conference fringe: the challenge of populism

Labour conference fringe: the challenge of populism Date: 24 September 2013

Another packed fringe event saw shadow justice minister Sadiq Khan MP, former Lib Dem MP Dr Evan Harris, Zoe Williams from the Guardian and David Lammy MP tackle the question What’s the answer to populism?, chaired by British Future’s Sunder Katwala, writes Steve Ballinger.

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Question and debate the veil, don’t rush to ban it

Question and debate the veil, don’t rush to ban it Date: 20 September 2013

As a practising Muslim I don’t believe that covering a woman’s face is something that Islam requires of her. I also don’t believe it’s fair to say that people who find the face veil threatening or intimidating are simply being racist or Islamophobic I don’t even believe that covering the face is particularly conducive to the country we live in. But then neither is the idea of banning it! writes Rabiha Hannan

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Populism: have the politicians got the message?

Populism: have the politicians got the message? Date: 19 September 2013

The populist challenge comes in response to a political elite that is seen as out of touch and refuses to do what common sense demands. It is an argument about “them and us”. And it demands a response which neither changes nor concedes the argument. That was the message of the ‘Populism: have the politicians got the message?’ fringe meeting at the Liberal Democrat conference earlier this week, writes Steve Ballinger

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Dear Vinnie: a postcard from England

Dear Vinnie: a postcard from England Date: 3 September 2013

Retired Wimbledon footballer Vinnie Jones, star of Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, has spoken out about England being “past its sell-by date.” In a Radio Times interview, Vinnie says that he would not return to Britain from his current home in Los Angeles as immigration has made the country “unrecognisable”. Steve Ballinger sends him a postcard from England.

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British Future’s latest activity on Twitter