The English Democrats

[emmie]

did anyone see their party political broadcast on tv last evening, interesting to say the least, they are English not British, and most definitely not European, fun watching, not sure i would give them a vote though

http://www.englishdemocrats.org.uk/

[treetops68]

No, there's enough odd-ball characters in the main parties without encouraging more!!

[kvalidir]

I saw it and had to check it wasn't a parody- totally embarassing.

[emmie]

i thought it was an interesting campaign, aimed squarely at the mindset of England for the English, no to immigration, no to Sharia Law, i second that however, and no to EU ruling England, i have no idea of the rest of the UK, but they want England to be the way it was, or never was more like.
i have some degree of sympathy with them, however unlikely to get my vote

[emmie]

why embarrassing, i don't think it was any more than the stupid, puerile nonsense brought to our tv screens by Labour recently.

[anotheoldgit]

Odd ball characters just because they have England at heart?

Being English myself there are not enough speaking up for England, there are enough wanting to protect their own cultures and heritage, why shouldn't the English?

/// "There is a forgotten, nay almost forbidden word, which means more to me than any other. That word is England". ///

Sir Winston Churchill.

/// "In left-wing circles it is always felt that there is something slightly disgraceful in being an Englishman, and that it is a duty to snigger at every English institution, from horse racing to suet puddings. It is a strange fact, but it is unquestionably true, that almost any English intellectual would feel more ashamed of standing to attention during "God Save the King" than stealing from a poor box". ///

George Orwell

[Kromovaracun]

I'm really not sure why, but for some strange reason I remember going on the ED's website about 5 or 6 years ago. They've certainly improved it! It was absolutely dreadful before - it looked like it was made in 1996 and had never been changed.



Here's the PPB.

It is a little cringey. The song in particular makes me claw the furniture. Adn the fact that they keep using exactly the same clips of people saying things is a bit cringey.(Though I wouldn't be inclined to vote for them if it was a decent PPB purely because I personally find 'British' a more appealing identity than English.)

[emmie]

i actually don't mind, though i usually say English first, then British.
i did watch with the thoughts they were going to stand up and sing Jerusalem, or perhaps they did and i missed it. A tad provincial in their thinking, but the fact is they will appeal to some,

[treetops68]

As have most of the crackpot hopefulls over the years E.g. Screaming Lord Such, remember him?

[ichkeria]

They are probably more sensible that UKIP, not that that is saying much

[Canary42]

Who are the "English" ?

Are they people whose ancestry EXCLUDES the Picts, the Scots, the Saxons, the Vikings, the Romans, the Normans etc., - all of whom arrived in "England" from abroad - or is the definition a contrived one to suit the racial prejudices of those making the claim ?.

[Kromovaracun]

I think English is an identity thing rather than an ethnicity thing. But I really don't think there's anything wrong with it - no identity really holds up if you scrutinise it enough detail. It's just a personal thing.

[Kromovaracun]

And unlike UKIP or the BNP, I've not heard anything racist come out of the EDs.

Incidentally did anyone see the banned BNP song they had for their PPB? It is an absolute marvel - one of the funniest things I've seen in ages. You can find it on youtube but I think the Ed might intervene if I post it here.

[jim360]

The BNP's PPB was bizarre. Playing the persecution card something awful...

[Kromovaracun]

They couldn't show the song/cartoon in the broadcast one. It was beautiful. It made it look like Nick Griffin was singing in a little girl's voice.

[McMouse]

Wish we English had opportunity to vote for independence so we could leave Scotland and Wales.

[anotheoldgit]

Kromovaracun

/// purely because I personally find 'British' a more appealing identity than English. ///

Could you please explain why, since there isn't such a country as 'Britain'?

[youngmafbog]

who are the English?

If you have to ask that then not you.

why is it any different to want to be English than an Indian wanting to be Indian or an African still wishing to be identified as African?

Oh, of course the George Orwell quote has you pretty much summed up doesn't it.

[New Judge]

“And unlike UKIP or the BNP, I've not heard anything racist come out of the EDs“

What of a racist nature have you heard from the UKIP leadership then, Kromo?

”Wish we English had opportunity to vote for independence so we could leave Scotland and Wales“

With a bit of luck and a following wind it will be achieved by stealth, McMouse. I‘m encouraging all my friends to take up temporary residence in Scotland and get themselves included on the electoral roll. They can then vote “Yes“ in their referendum and promptly move back to England. That should help get one unwanted appendage out of the way. I’m sure Wales will follow suit soon after.

[anotheoldgit]

Canary42

/// Who are the "English" ? ///

Surely that is easy enough, those who come from the country England, the same as one is Scottish if one belongs to Scotland, or Welsh if one comes from Wales, or................but surely you should have got the idea by now.

/// or is the definition a contrived one to suit the racial prejudices of those making the claim ?. ///

Nothing contrived, England and the English have been around for many a long year, even before false accusations of racial prejudices have been around.

[New Judge]

Oh, and I forgot about Cornwall !! :-)