A Truly British Anthem

Any new anthem must be a British anthem, without being jingoistic, that all citizens of these islands can sing and be proud of. It should be a secular, optimistic and above all, cheerful song, that raises the spirits when it is played and sung. As well as a new British anthem, there must also be officially recognised anthems for each member nation. England cannot be allowed to keep the existing national anthem nor to adopt any new British anthem as the default English anthem. Such a move would just continue the idea of England = Britain. The English need to have the same sense of national pride within Britain as do the Northern Irish, Welsh and Scots, but not at their expense!

Who’s anthem?

Our national anthem is another example of the Anglo-centric establishment believing that our anthem represents the union when it is clearly an English anthem. Like the flag, the anthem contains ideas of English supremacy. The second verse offends many Welsh, the sixth verse offends the Scots and all of it offends the Catholics in Northern Ireland. Atheists cannot support any of it because God plays no part in their life at any level. Many of the non-Christian religions now practised in the UK do not have a God as Christians would understand it. Although there are some laudable sentiments in it, our national anthem has its divisive elements too. The “National Anthem” has to go!