Special Edition
Special Issue September 2007

Contents

Editorial
Justice for England March
Wall to Wall Propaganda
The Census + Charities
Nationality & Ethnicity
The Legacy of William Tyndale
Ethnic English Trust & Wycliffe Trust
The Steadfast Trust

 

The Census – a Steadfast success
We at Steadfast claim credit for getting the Office for National Statistics to include ‘English’ as an ethnicity on the next census form for England - there was certainly no help from others.

It was an example of successfully engaging the system and making points in a way that showed we understood the system and knew our rights. We reminded ONS of its statutory obligations to record information about all racial groups (including the English) so that their special needs can be determined and proper policy and funding provision made for them. Arguments were also put about the absurdity of recognising the English as an ethnic group in Scotland but not in England. We also pointed out that other ethnic groups had been consulted about the census but none of those consulted represents the interests and aspirations of the ethnic-English. In short, it was made clear that the inclusion of a question asking for ‘national identity’ and providing an ‘English’ tick-box, was inadequate and unacceptable. As might be expected, CRE was not in favour of including an English tick-box under What is your ethnicity but instead wanted it under What do you consider your national identity to be. We believe that this is part of CRE’s policy of promoting an inclusive Englishness and obscuring the existence of an exclusive English racial identity – which is not what CRE is supposed to do – it is beyond its statutory powers. That is why the Ethnic English Trust is seeking judicial review of CRE’s acts and omissions.

Fortunately, the Census Director, Ian Cope, saw the strength of the case we put to him - see Question 13 on the 2007 Test Census form. (see pdf version for census form) We congratulate the ONS and its director for listening and responding in a fair and responsible manner.

A big problem now is getting an ‘English’ tick-box included on all ethnic monitoring forms - this is where we can all play a part. If you are at anytime presented with a form which does not have an ‘English’ tick-box under What is your ethnicity, complain – it should have. Unless we all complain nothing will change. And if they reply that they are following instructions from some other body tell them that the other body is wrong. Contact the ‘other body’ and ask why they are not observing their statutory duties and giving proper recognition to the English racial group. Let Steadfast have their reply.

Now that we English are starting to get the administrative recognition that we have long had in law, it is proving difficult for those who have scoffed at the idea of an English ‘racial identity’ to come to terms with it.

Many people do not yet appreciate the importance of having an English ethnic identity recognised by ONS. The policy and funding implications of this could be great and we must take advantage of the opportunities it gives us. It is certain that the census and monitoring statistics will show widespread discrimination against the English (ethnic/indigenous).

We English are recognised in law as a racial group for the purposes of the Race Relations Act, and we now have recognition from the state as an ethnic group for administrative purposes. Make the most of it.

Charities – Steadfast Trust
The Steadfast Trust aims to help members of the ethnic English community. There are many thousands of ethnic specific charities for other communities but as yet, the Steadfast Trust is the only one for the English community.

It is important to note that the Steadfast Trust and Steadfast journal are two completely separate organisations. The formation and registration of the Steadfast Trust were events of great significance but things have moved on. Control has passed to Julien Crighton, the driving force, who has the task of turning fine words and sentiments into reality. He has assembled an excellent group of people and there is optimism about what they will together achieve.

Since registration of the Steadfast Trust, the Charity Commission has refused to register more English specific charities. Despite this institutional resistance it seems that the Charity Commissioners have no difficulty in giving charitable status to ethnic-specific organisations provided that the ethnicity is not English. The Commissioners are hideously unrepresentative of the population as a whole (age, politics, ethnicity, etc.), and their action comes as no surprise. It appears that they regret that the Steadfast Trust ‘slipped through’ and are determined to close the door on other similar applications. There is an understandable suspicion that they are also intent on finding reason to strike the Steadfast Trust from the Register of Charities.

The Steadfast Trust had a press launch in May 2007 and those involved were disappointed but not surprised that it received no news coverage. Even at a local level in Nottingham, where the charity is based, there was no coverage despite pre-launch media interest. Many find it difficult not to be paranoid.