"A new campaign is aiming to collect 50 objects that sum up Englishness in an effort to move the conversation away from reductive arguments over whether to hang a St George's flag or not. Supported by the Green party politician Caroline Lucas, the musician and campaigner Billy Bragg, and Kojo Koram, a law professor, the A Very English Chat campaign hopes to tackle England's growing social divisions and political polarisation."
"Andy Green, the founder of the campaign, which is funded by donations, said he was aiming to take the heat out of divisive conversations around Englishness, which often revolve around battles over whether to display a St George's flag. Our country is tearing itself apart and we urgently need to take action to avoid sleepwalking down the same path."
"He is seeking to encourage a nuanced, wider ranging, more generous chat around the things from the historically significant to the seemingly incidental or amusing that connect English people and tell a bigger story. Cultural artefacts might be objects, places, people or even anecdotes. Contributions also include music, food and nature."
A Very English Chat campaign aims to reframe conversations about English identity by collecting 50 objects that represent what Englishness means to different people. Supported by figures including Caroline Lucas, Billy Bragg, and Kojo Koram, the initiative encourages people to share five objects defining their Englishness in 2026. These cultural artefacts—ranging from Morris Minors to chicken tikka masala to Magna Carta—encompass objects, places, people, anecdotes, music, food, and nature. The collected contributions will be transformed into merchandise like cards, posters, and tea towels for St George's Day. Founder Andy Green seeks to move beyond divisive flag debates and create a richer, more inclusive conversation about shared English identity, addressing growing social divisions and political polarization.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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