Date: 23 January 2012
Britain did not have a brilliant Olympic Games when London last hosted the Olympics in 1948, in terms of the medal table at least. The host nation won just three Olympic golds , all in rowing or sailing, which along with 14 silver medals and six bronzes left Britain ranking 12th at the end of the games. But those first post-war Olympics since Hitler’s Games in Berlin 1936 was a time when the value of taking part was never better understood. The Houses of Parliament figured prominently on the official Games poster designed by Walter Herz, a Czech refugee from fascism, as Dr Cathy Ross of the Museum of London has noted.
Date: 23 January 2012
Scottish independence is not the only question surrounding the future of the Union, says guest blogger Glenn Gotfried.
As the United Kingdom embarks on a probable two year discussion surrounding Scottish sovereignty we will likely see questions surrounding the future of England arise out of the debate. A new report by the Institute for Public Policy Research shows that devolution is not only a matter for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland but may be transcending into the minds of the English as well. Using the results from the Future of England (FoE) survey, an IPPR/YouGov commissioned poll focusing on the English public, the report explores the link between an emerging English identity and its possible consequences on England’s political future.
Date: 20 January 2012
The British are fully aware of the perils facing the British and European economies, but refuse to let that entirely […]
Date: 16 January 2012
As 2012 kicks off, new identity, integration, migration and opportunity thinktank British Future held its launch at the Museum of […]
Date: 16 January 2012
One of the original 1948 Olympic torches will be on display at the launch of British Future this week, ahead of its display in an exhibition this spring. Below Dr Cathy Ross talks about the importance of the torch as an historic icon.
Date: 16 January 2012
By Sunder Katwala
Who do we think we are in Britain today? That question will recur across 2012. Arguments over Scottish independence and the Union have dominated the opening political exchanges of the year. Addressing the budget deficit is not just a question of economic management, but also of social choices about how to handle the pressures of austerity fairly. And this year will also offer a chance to take the long view of social change in Britain, as we host the Olympics for the first time since 1948, and as the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee will provoke reflections not just on the service of the Monarch but on the transformation of post-war Britain over six decades.
Date: 13 January 2012
Despite leaving when he was a toddler, Matthew Rhodes has a strong sense of being from Yorkshire…
Date: 11 January 2012
“A patriotic extra has revealed how he set Madonna straight on UK royal history during the filming of her Wallis Simpson biopic W,” reports the i newspaper this morning. It is an amusing tale of how north Londoner Ben Goodman, 69, hired to play a newspaper vendor who hands a ‘Royal scandal’ newspaper to the actress playing Mrs Simpson.
Date: 10 January 2012
The British Future state of the nation poll found that 50% of people in the north-east feel that they belong to Britain. The figure is 66% across Britain, 67% in England, and 60% in Scotland, making the north-east the place where people identify least with a British identity.
British Future reports examine public attitudes and make recommendations for change on topics ranging from future immigration and integration policy to how communications can help combat prejudice."
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