The Future of England: A St. George's Day Debate
Over the past decade or so, England and Englishness has increasingly informed and resonated in political and public debates concerning the cohesion and constitutional future of the United Kingdom. The so-called ‘English Questions’ of devolution to and within England have been driven by the ongoing reform of the governmental arrangements and politics of the United Kingdom, the rise of identity politics, Brexit, and – most recently – policy responses to the Covid-19 pandemic. Debates about England should be governed are however rarely considered in a simultaneous and congruent manner and are often disconnected from increasingly febrile and polarised debates about identity.
We would like to invite you on St George’s Day to listen and put questions to a distinguished panel of experts who will consider different approaches to how we understand the future of England. The panel will explore how issues of power, identity, and politics manifest in England, and in what ways policymakers, politicians, and others might develop more coherent and strategic approaches to England’s governance and inclusive forms of Englishness.
This event is organised by the One Yorkshire Committee and the University of Huddersfield.
Our speakers are:
Ailsa Henderson (University of Edinburgh), Professor of Political Science and co-author of ‘Englishness: The Political Force Transforming Britain’
Sunder Katwala, Director of the identity and integration think-tank British Future - @sundersays
Andy Mycock (School of Human and Health Sciences, University of Huddersfield) Reader in Politics and co-author of ‘The Anglosphere: Continuity, Dissonance, and Location’ - @andymycock1 @researchisace
Joanie Willet (University of Exeter), Senior Lecturer and Co-Director of the Institute of Cornish Studies - @JoanieWillett
The event will be chaired by Cllr. Judith Blake, Baroness and Former Leader of Leeds City Council - @cllrjudithblake
'The event will be introduced by Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate, former MP for Leeds North-East and MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber'
All are welcome to this timely, online event to mark St George's Day. You can submit any questions you might have for the panel while registering for the event.
