English and Progressive aren't mutually at odds

Scotland and Wales have their own political structures, and there are differences in terms of things like prescription charges, education fees etc Yet England is denied its own identity, its own referendum, allusions to it made by Gordon Brown were disguised as being about Britishness, when in fact the source was George Orwell talking about England. I do not understand how and why England is denied such a thing, what I do understand is that unless perceptions change, then we continue the juvenile assertion that the white working class is essentially racist, which isn't true, we allow the likes of Nick Griffin to co-opt the feeling and identity for his own gross purposes.

We are, as a people, tolerant and civic-minded, and the notion of being English is not something to be ashamed of, but certainly we need to ascertain whether or not we want to change the debate from something juvenile and dissonant to something inclusive and positive - the immigration debate speaks right to the heart of this, even as I sometimes have proved to me, that it is merely an acceptable way to promote racism without being overt about it. And the media distortion over that, is something that I see time and again.

You can be English and Progressive, you need no other permission than your own.