Challenging Traditional Definitions
Liberal Democrat MP Josh Babarinde is leading the campaign to modernize how ethnicity is recorded. He has gained high-profile support from figures like Foreign Secretary David Lammy and former Home Secretary James Cleverly. Other backers include Conservative MP Mark Pritchard and Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Layla Moran.
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The Senate has passed a bill to accelerate clean energy pipeline projectsThe current census structure is under fire for being outdated. Lawmakers point out that the present definition of Englishnesswould exclude 60% of the England World Cup squad. Babarinde argues that national pride is not tied to skin color. He believes the census must evolve to reflect the reality of modern Britain.
The push for change follows controversial comments by Reform UK figures and former Home Secretary Suella Braverman. Braverman recently stated that she does not consider herself ethnically English due to her South Asian heritage. She argued that Englishness is a specific ethnicity with ancient roots. She insisted her view was not racist but a matter of historical accuracy.
However, many MPs disagree with this restrictive view. Currently, the census only offers Englishas a sub-category under White. This leaves five million people from minority backgrounds in England and Wales without a way to claim their English identity. While Scotland and Wales offer Asian Scottishor Black Welshoptions, England does not.
A Legislative Push for Inclusion
Babarinde will present a „10-minute rule motionin Parliament on Tuesday. While these bills rarely become law, they are powerful tools for highlighting policy gaps. The proposed bill would require all ethnic categories to include an ”Englishoption in future counts. Supporters include Ben Obese-Jecty, Adam Jogee, and Munira Wilson.
The goal is to stop those who wish to gatekeep Englishness. Babarinde wants to unite the country around a shared identity rather than dividing it. Even within Reform UK, some have distanced themselves from Braverman’s stance. Party chairman Zia Yusuf used a football analogy to counter her, calling Ashley Cole the greatest English left-back in history.
This reform is viewed as a statistical necessity. It aims to provide a more accurate picture of the population for public planning. By recognizing diverse identities, the census can finally reflect the true face of the nation.
