Many people across England today will be marking St George’s Day with community events that involve faith institutions, local councils and schools and to demonstrate English pride. Research suggests that people across England want a more inclusive way of celebrating national identity that welcomes everyone, regardless of background.
- Seven in ten people (72%), including ethnic minorities (69%), say they would “welcome efforts to mark St George’s Day that show that people from different ethnic backgrounds are invited to be part of it,” according to the Focaldata polling.
This sentiment is echoed across communities, with strong backing from ethnic minority respondents as well. Yet, while the desire for inclusivity is clear, the reality doesn’t always match.
- Only half the public (53%) and 45% of ethnic minorities currently feel that a St George’s Day party is a symbol of England that belongs to people of all backgrounds, the poll finds.
Among ethnic minority groups, that figure is even lower. This gap points to an opportunity to reimagine the day as a moment of unity rather than division.
Interestingly, expressions of national pride themselves are not the issue.
- 79% of the public and 69% of ethnic minorities see flying the England flag on 23 April as a healthy expression of English pride.
However, context matters. When flags are displayed in ways across lamp-posts or are used in excessive or unregulated ways public support drops significantly, with some viewing this as veering into uncomfortable territory.
Sunder Katwala, Director of British Future, said:
“Many people are showing this year how St George’s Day can help bring people together and celebrate what we love about England.
“We’ve seen this year how national symbols can polarise opinion: some see flags on lamp-posts as expressing national pride while others intend or perceive a more prejudiced message. Those arguments can overshadow what most people agree on.
“We should be able to celebrate England’s past, present and future – and we do that best when we express pride without prejudice, inviting everybody who calls England home to feel part of St George’s Day.”
Voices from across different communities are reinforcing this message. Faith and civic leaders alike are calling for a reclaiming of national symbols as representations of unity, dignity and shared belonging. The message is consistent: true pride in England should bring people together and not push them apart.
With the upcoming World Cup there is a growing recognition that moments of national pride can be powerful opportunities to unite. Sport can be a powerful tool and this summer we hope to see this with the England football team, as the St George’s flag will be seen as a symbol that brings the nation together.
Ultimately, this year’s St George’s Day events up and down the country hosted and organised by people from all backgrounds and faiths demonstrates what it really means to celebrate England. By embracing a message of “pride without prejudice,” communities across the country can help shape a more inclusive, confident and welcoming national identity where everyone feels they belong.
This spring British Future published a toolkit, ‘England United: Pride not prejudice’, which aims to encourage and inform institutions, community organisations and public voices to speak up for pride in an inclusive England that rejects prejudice.
The ‘England United; Pride not prejudice’ toolkit can be downloaded from the British Future website HERE.
