Summary
THERE can be nothing that evidences the confusion in Gordon Brown's attempts to promote a British identity more than the recent BBC History magazine poll, which reveals the signing of the Magna Carta as the most popular date for a British "national" holiday (May 30).
As an English constitutional document, it is entirely appropriate for an English national day, but drafted 500 years before the parliamentary Union with Scotland, it is, indeed, a rather unusual day to celebrate a "British" event. In one of his appeals for a "British" national holiday, Brown mentioned the Magna Carta, reflecting more his personal ambitions and clumsy appeal to the voters of Middle England.See the full content of this document
Extract
Magna Carta and Muddles About Britishness
No-one is able to reflect what "Britishness" as a nationality is,...
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