Those who claim to be English civic-nationalists have some explaining to do since there is no English state and no English civic identity. Their claim to favour civic-nationalism is often a means of seeking approval from the political establishment – just as the Scottish National Party has done. It is a way of saying, I am not one of those nasty ‘ethnic-nationalists’ of whom you disapprove.
And those who claim to be communists have some explaining to do because there is no communism in England. Those "who claim to be" English civic nationalists favour the creation of an English state, or aspects of a state, in order to help create an English civic identity, to promote and foster a sense of belonging to England and, importantly, of England belonging to us. This claim does not find favour with the Establishment because the Establishment are Anglo-Brits who see English interests and British interests as indivisible; these are people for whom, Britain is "greater England".
Ethnic nationalists, like Steadfast, exist to protect and further the interests of their ethnic group. Most civic nationalists recognise that civic nationalism and ethnic nationalism are not mutually exclusive positions, but they see civic nationalism as the only platform on which to build a modern nation state because it works on the basis of individual rights and national solidarity, rather than group rights and ethnic solidarity (multiculturalism/communalism).
If civic-nationalists have 'some explaining to do', then the question arises - do ethnic nationalists have some explaining to do? Do ethnic nationalists not want England to possess the constitutional apparatus of statehood; and if not why not, does it diminish their England?
A recent article in the New Statesman highlights the identity crisis that English civic nationalists wish to correct:
Loyalty itself has different meanings in different parts of Britain. Asians in Scotland, particularly those born in Scotland, describe themselves as Scots and tend to be more loyal to Scotland than Britain. The bulk of the Muslims in Scotland now support the SNP and back the demand for an independent Scotland. Asians in Wales also describe themselves as Welsh Asians and appear comfortable with their Welsh identity. In contrast, Asians in England tend to describe themselves as British Asians; and see Englishness as an exclusive identity that is closed to them. Their local loyalty belongs to Britain as a whole and many regard the demands of their Scottish Asian brothers and sisters across the border for an independent Scotland as treason.
Ethnic nationalism has a strong cultural component, and it may be that a self-assertive and confident cultural nationalism in England can help foster a more inclusive sense of belonging in England, a pride and interest in its heritage, politics and direction. Unfortunately, although there is nothing intrinsically 'nasty' about ethnic nationalism, it's doubtful that a bunch of anglo-saxon revivalists agitating for group rights are the most suitable vehicle to deliver either a cultural or political renaissance of England. But since the UK Government won't step into the vacuum, it's not at all surprising to see the English taking things into their own hands.
In addition to Steadfast and its spin off the Steadfast Trust, there is now a relaunched"English Lobby" promising to fight discrimination against the English people:
Non English minorities, (whilst often heard in the press/BBC deriding England and the English on most fronts,) are content to seek to live in England and gain the benefits of an English education, commerce and quality of life, yet at the same time denigrate the very nation that has made them who they are. England and the English have been far too patient for far too long and are now being unfairly treated within the Union and this anti-English discrimination must cease....
The people of England have worked hard and suffered much to attain a decent level of living, and politicians appear only too ready to hand these hard won achievements to anyone “other” than the people of England themselves. This is a travesty of politics and democracy and must be brought to an end.
The English should be put FIRST in their own country – charity begins at home.
And then there's The Centre for English Policy Studies (like the English Lobby, registered to former English Democrat Christine Constable), seeking to develop "a range of targeted initiatives to the young people of England, irrespective of their race or religion".
The tentative beginnings of a majority fight-back against the race-relations industry. An understandable but regrettable development in my opinion.