Andy Burnham signalled he could throw his weight behind the drive by Liberal Democrat MP Josh Babarinde, who wants to challenge the idea that being English means being white
Lib Dem MP Josh Babarinde wants to broaden the ethnicity options on the census(Image: Gary Roberts/SOPA Images/Shutterstock)
Andy Burnham has said he could support a plan to let Brits identify as ‘Black English’ or ‘Asian English’ on the census.
The Prime Minister signalled he could throw his weight behind the drive by Liberal Democrat MP Josh Babarinde, who wants to challenge the idea that being English means being white. Mr Babarinde has brought forward a private member’s bill – dubbed the St George’s Bill – to offer more ethnicity options on the census so Black or Asian people can define themselves as English.
It comes after Reform MP Suella Braverman triggered fury last month when she suggested only white people can be English.
Pressed on whether he would back it by Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey, Mr Burnham said: “I haven’t looked at the detail of the Bill, but I stand here thinking that I would want to support that Bill to directly take on the poisonous politics that we’ve seen from some in this House who are seeking to divide us.
“We must move on from a decade of division and drift in this country, we must bring people back together. I am interested in working with anyone in this House who shares that aim.”
Sir Ed told the Commons: “Our politics is being affected by poisonous ideas, like the idea that people born and raised in England can’t be English because they’re not white. Shamefully, even some in this House have argued for this racist ideology. We must reject it, as the Conservative leader (Kemi Badenoch), to her great credit, has done.
“We should start with the census, where the only English option, when you’re asked about your ethnicity, is white English.”
Asian, Black and mixed ethnicity respondents can describe themselves as British but not English. The census in Scotland and Wales offers options such as “Scottish Asian”, and “Black Welsh”.
Bringing forward the Bill on Tuesday, the MP for Eastbourne said: “Do you have to be white to be English? This St George’s Bill says no. I am a proud Englishman. I have proud Nigerian heritage.
“But my parents and I were born in England, we grew up in England, our home is in England. Yet some voices attempt to reduce Englishness to a skin colour and to a bloodline. Well, if we’re going to go down that path, my mum’s side of the family has been English for as far back as we have traced.”
He said the census treated Black and Asian English people as “marginal”, adding: “Is (Rishi Sunak) a former prime minister, only marginal to our country?
“Is (David Lammy) a former deputy prime minister and co-sponsor of this Bill only marginal to our country? What about Ian Wright, Lewis Hamilton, Cynthia Erivo?”
Mr Babarinde has said he has received death threats since introducing the Bill, with one telling him to “go home while you have the legs and breath to carry you”.
His English ethnic identity (census particulars) Bill has received cross-party support, including from former Labour Deputy PM David Lammy and top Tory Sir James Cleverly. But it is unlikely to become law without Government backing. It is due to return to the Commons on April 23 2027 – St George’s Day.
