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High Commission Believes Englishness is Divisive
Further greetings from Down Under. I understand that you are looking for articles to feature on your website.
Well, just in case you think English people back home are the only disadvantaged in present-day Britain, you might like to know that I've just received notification from the British High Commission in Wellington that it will NOT officially support anything that is specifically English (we take that to mean English cultural and heritage events, English St George's Day celebrations, our planned English Society, and our English Heritage Community Radio programme).
According to Dr Mike Cherrett the Deputy High Commissioner, the High Commission works strictly within FCO's policies, which means they will only support 'British' events which, in his words "represent modern Britain, in its full multi-cultural, multi-ethnic richness", whatever that means.
The word we have had from the High Commission is that it believes that supporting the English Community would be divisive to Britain.
Contrast this with the Irish, French and Italian Communities which all recieve direct support from their respective Embassies for their community Radio programmes and Cultural events.
I did send a letter of complaint and query about the FCO and its policies to Prime Minister Blair at Downing Street, but unfortunately his Secretary sent it to, yes you guessed, ............... the FCO for response.
Since then I have had the Civil Service runaround, so I have forwarded all the correspondence to Tony Blair's Constituency Office, David Cameron's Office, and Robin Tilbrook of the English Democrats to try and get some political input.
My next step I suspect will be to explore whether this policy is racially sound, or whether it disadvantages English people ethnically and culturally.
I will let you know how things progress.
Regards,
Phil Drane
Phil Drane
