The St. George’s Committee’s ongoing educational and outreach work is challenging “institutionalised Anglophobia.”

SAINT GEORGE’S DAY – 23^rd April – is just around the corner. Therefore, the National Liberal Party thinks that it’s both timely and appropriate to highlight some of the recent educational and outreach work carried out by the St. George’s Committee – SGC (1).

We were particularly interested in the launch of the SGCs United By St. George! campaign. A spokeswoman from the group outlined the idea behind the campaign which is designed to highlight and challenge “institutionalised Anglophobia”.

Here’s what she had to say:

“The St. George’s Committee – SGC – believes that there’s a campaign of institutionalised Anglophobia. This is where the establishment seems to portray any pride in England and the English in a wholly negative and derogatory manner.

One form of attack on the English is to say that we’re ‘too insular’. We find that hard to believe. The latest official government estimate (2017) of the population of England is 54,786,300 – although we presume that this figure includes non-English as well. (2) We’re not even sure if the true extent of the English diaspora is known. However, let’s say that there’s another 54 million people around the world who are of English ancestry. That gives us over 100 million people.

Now it’s entirely possible that some of these 100 million folks would be shy and retiring – or ‘insular’ – whilst others would be outgoing. But to say that the English as a whole are ‘too insular’ is a sweeping generalisation. And whilst the English are not a race – we’re an ethnic grouping – some would say that this sweeping generalisation as almost racist in tone.

On this point, surely it’s up to a nation and its people if it wants to be ‘insular’ or not. Indeed, since when has it been a crime to be shy and retiring – or ‘insular?’

Another form of attack is to say that St. George wasn’t English. We’ve seen a few theories as to his background – but the most popular is that he was a Roman officer of Palestinian and Greek descent. We’re totally ok with that.

However, England isn’t the only nation to have a non-indigenous Patron Saint. For instance, St. Patrick was probably Welsh – and not Irish. But does anyone attack the folks of Ulster and Éire (and the rest of the world for that matter!) who’re out celebrating St. Patrick’s Day? Also, St. Piran is the Patron Saint of Cornwall, but it’s believed that he was Irish. But does anyone begrudge the Cornish celebrating him? On a similar note, St. Andrew was thought to have been born in Galilee. However, no-one seems to have a problem with the Scots enjoying themselves towards the end of November.

We’re not aware of anyone questioning the legitimacy of St, Patrick, St. Piran or St. Andrew. So why pick on the English and our right to celebrate St. George? Again, we feel that it’s a form of Anglophobia.”

With all of this in mind, the St. George’s Committee has so far produced two pieces of artwork (see above) which challenge institutionalised Anglophobia. At the same time, they know that some people – including the well-known English advocate Tony Linsell, author of the thought-provoking An English Nationalism (3) – have even questioned the very existence of St. George. They also acknowledge that St. George is celebrated by many different people around the world. Again, the SGC is “cool” with this and has actually made the theme of their campaign United By St. George!

As the SGC spokeswoman noted:

“We feel that the English are singled out and attacked because St. George is not English. But are the Irish, Cornish or Scots attacked in the same way? No.

In fact, St. George is celebrated by many people and nations, including Portugal, Georgia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Macedonia. We’ve absolutely no problem with that.

In fact, we decided to look at this issue – of a ‘shared’ St. George – in our educational and outreach work. Therefore, under the slogan United By St. George! we’ve so far produced two pieces of artwork. The first relates to Aragon and the second to Catalonia.

Without getting too involved in Spanish internal politics – many in Aragon and Catalonia want independence (4) and claim that they’re distinct nations – St. George’s Day is enthusiastically celebrated on 23^rd April.

It’s a public holiday in Aragon (and is known as the Day of Aragon – Día de Aragon) where it’s a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed (5). Celebrations are held all across Aragon and especially in the capital city of Zaragoza (known as Saragossa in English).

St. George’s Day is also celebrated in Catalonia (6) where he is known as Sant Jordi. Indeed, in Catalonia, perhaps his greatest act – slaying the dragon – is set in Montblanc, capital of the comarca (county) Conca de Barberà, which is several miles from the Catalan capital, Barcelona.

Although not a public holiday in Catalonia, the 23^rd April sees many people out on the streets. This is because Catalans view St. George’s Day as the most romantic day of the year. Since the 15th century, it has been known as Lover’s Day (dia dels enamorats) or the Day of the Rose when lovers are supposed to give a red rose to their sweethearts. Since the 1930’s, a tradition is also to give a book to loved ones (7-9).

A sprig of wheat is often tied to a rose with a piece of red and yellow striped ribbon. This symbolizes the Senyera, a red and yellow striped flag. This is an ancient symbol of Catalonia and you can see it incorporated into our England & Catalonia – United By St. George! poster.

It’ll probably come as no surprise to say that Barcelona – the capital of Catalonia – really goes all out to celebrate St. George’s Day/El Diada de Sant Jordi. Here the streets are packed and many buildings are lavishly decorated with red roses. I’m sure that this year will be no exception.”

To conclude, the St. George’s Committee spokeswoman wondered how the Establishment (in other countries where St. George is the Patron Saint) viewed those who took part in their respective St. George’s Day celebrations. In particular, what was the attitude of the metropolitan elite in each nation?

She also wished everyone (English and non-English alike) an early Happy St. George’s Day and encouraged local communities to put on family-friendly celebrations in an attempt to emulate those held in the Stone Cross area of West Bromwich – https://www.facebook.com/stgeorge.day/ – which are reputed to be the biggest in the world!

NATIONAL LIBERALS advocate a return to small nations, environmentally sustainable communities and co-operative private enterprises. We also believe in true democracy, decentralisation, sound money, land reform and animal welfare. We are very much opposed to statism, imperialist wars and global corporations.

We promote these ideas via our various publications, the production of e-posters and by hosting debates. With this in mind, English Voice – the voice of the National Liberal Party in England – is interested in looking at ways in which we govern ourselves. In particular, how can we move away from a system where we are ruled by a professional political class and move towards a system of popular (and truly representative) rule?

To possibly answer this question, our attention was drawn towards an article – https://theswamp.media/how-to-stop-politicians-lying-guillotines-and-localism – by Johnny Vedmore which appeared in The Swamp, which appears to be a online publication which ‘examines the crazy but true world of Politics.’

This article is written from a UK perspective – indeed, the author notes that every ‘UK region must take their power back from London’. However, we feel that it’s particularly applicable to England, as it’s the only nation in the UK that doesn’t have its own Parliament or Assembly.

English Voice invites its readers to carefully examine Mr. Vedmore’s article. Is autonomy and localism the way to go – if so, how do we ensure that those who inhabit the ‘Westminster bubble’ really do relinquish their powers? And even more importantly, how do we dismantle the Capitalist system which they serve?

Let us know what you think. Share your thoughts when this article is reproduced on either of our two Facebook sites – National Liberals https://www.facebook.com/groups/52739504313/ and National Liberal Party https://www.facebook.com/NationalLiberalParty/ It goes without saying that there are no official links between Johnny Vedmore, The Swamp, English Voice and the National Liberal Party.

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How to Stop Politicians Lying! Guillotines and Localism? Every UK region must take their power back from London.

Can Localism really bring power to the people? If so, how do we ensure that those who inhabit the ‘Westminster bubble’ really do relinquish their powers? And even more importantly, how do we dismantle the Capitalist system which they serve?

IF I WERE to describe to you all the feelings that I experience when I watch the UK Conservative party lie to parliament, I would say it is like a burning volcanic eruption inside my rib cage, moving upwards towards my epiglottis. Then, when the Tories are prevented from being called dishonest by the out of touch parliamentary rules, my head explodes and I scream uncontrollably for the return of the guillotine.

I don’t think I’m alone in being angered by how politicians of every party are allowed to tell lies in the House of Commons with impunity. Dishonesty is surely the enemy of a cohesive society, as are guillotines. And as it stands, our society is already officially split approximately 50/50 on all of the most important matters of state. We don’t need dishonesty or guillotines dividing us any further.

We need to have an honest system if we are going to create a better society, and the ability to call out dishonesty is essential if social stability and cultural enlightenment are on our agenda. But that isn’t the system we have. We have a system that rewards dishonesty, one that does not call out shady conduct within our official governmental bodies. Our society is fractured by constant deceitful behaviour.

The reason these officials continue to lie is because no one in political office is held legally responsible for their fraudulent activities. There is a simple way to solve this glaring absence of responsibility; we could make them legally accountable. But, I hear the mob cry, that won’t see any sort of justice for the many decades of lies which have already been told. So maybe what we really need is retroactive legal powers to pursue those who have benefited from lying in political office over the past 50 years. I’m not calling for previous political giants to be guillotined, rather I’m simply suggesting the we should see Tony Blair’s war crimes as a serious breach of office, or Iain Duncan Smith’s systematic abuse of disabled benefit claimants as unthinkable and illegal.

But if we were to remove dishonesty from politics, I truly believe that our governmental systems wouldn’t miraculously morph into some form of political utopia. Instead we would just confirm that humans lie a lot. The system isn’t necessarily responsible for the deceitful behaviour of the people who are part of it. The chaos of the whole is more likely to be a reflection of the character of its constituent pieces, the lying humans. Changing the system won’t stop bad people lying, laws and regulatory bodies won’t stop naughty people fibbing, and even the threat of the guillotine won’t stop the usual suspects from twisting the truth. A liar will lie whatever system we have, or punishment we dole out. There are no possible political formations that will change how human beings have acted since the dawn of time.

The solution? We should turn our backs on large soulless forms of governmental organisations and concentrate on a local compassionate networks of representation. The reason I believe this to be part of the solution is very simple. If you’re close to the people you govern, if you share your life with the humans that you represent, you will be much less likely to deceive them. Well to do folks who are lost inside the Westminster bubble are so detached from the realities of most of the people that they supposedly represent that it becomes almost impossible for them to act honestly. They have the pressures of party loyalty, lobbyists, and antiquated tradition to distract them from their primary objective, which is to represent their local constituents. A modern form of localism may be the best way to bring some sort of accountability and honesty into politics.

So firstly, every region of the United Kingdom must take their sovereignty back from London. This country is different wherever you go. You may find that the high streets of most British cities are almost carbon copies of each other. But when you scratch the surface of any city or town in the UK, you reveal an amazing tapestry of cultures with such startling variety. The Yam Yams of Wolverhampton are different from the YoYos of Birmingham. Scousers and Mancunians almost see themselves as different races, yet they’re barely 40 miles apart. Geordies, Taffy’s, Brizzle folk, Scotsmen, the Cornish are all dying to keep their peoples cultures alive and well. But instead of advancing our own cultures, we are being forced to morph into a version of the English capital, including adopting its crime, its ethics, and its globalistic vision for the future, a vision that could all but destroy local cultural diversity.

We all seem to desire independence from institutions that rule us from afar. Every region of this fantastic country needs to reclaim their independence from London. This isn’t about dividing our country; it’s about rediscovering our local cultures and celebrating our amazingly unique Island.

We are becoming what we’ve consumed for too many years. We have been on a London based diet culturally speaking, and it has left us obese and unsatisfied. We should go local.

• ALSO CHECK OUT

English Voice Debate (1) – Independence For England? http://nationalliberal.org/english-voice-debate-1-%e2%80%93-independence-for-england …

English Voice Debate (2) – Towards An English Parliament? http://nationalliberal.org/english-voice-debate-2-–-towards-an-english-parliament …

• Read English Voice – the voice of the National Liberal Party in England. To get hold of issues 1 and 2 simply e-mail natliberal@aol.com and ask for your FREE pdf copies!