Profile: England

England is the largest constituent part of the United Kingdom, and accounts for 83 per cent of its population and most of its economic activity.

Issues affecting the United Kingdom as a whole therefore also apply to England in particular, especially in the case of identity politics. England's continuing contribution to world civilisation is significant, ranging from language to sport, music and law.


The various kingdoms set up by Germanic settlers in the 5th-6th centuries were finally united into the Kingdom of England between 927 and 954. The Norman Conquest of 1066 brought in a new ruling class from northern France and heavily influenced the language, culture and European orientation of the country.



Weather - good or bad - is a popular topic of conversation
England gradually annexed Wales and established hegemony over Ireland and Scotland. This Kingdom of England had a distinct identity until it was subsumed into the United Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707.

The establishment of devolved parliaments in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales after 1997 gave those constituent parts of the United Kingdom their own political identity, leaving England the only part directly run by the British government.

This has raised the profile of the "West Lothian question", namely that Scottish MPs can vote on specifically English matters in the Westminster parliament while English MPs have no say over Scottish affairs.

England has its own quasi-governmental organisations and Regional Assemblies. Set up after 1998, these assemblies are made up of local government nominees and monitor the work of Regional Development Agencies. Only the Greater London Assembly is directly elected.

Government proposals for elected assemblies were dealt a blow by the rejection of such a body in the North-East of England in a 2004 referendum. Common criticism of the assemblies at the time was that they were to have no devolved powers other than responsibility for transport. The unelected assemblies are likely to be abolished in 2010 as part of a reorganisation of English local government.

A campaign for an English parliament has grown and is backed by some opposition Conservative MPs, but has not yet entered the political mainstream. The Labour government maintains that an English parliament would overshadow the rest of the United Kingdom. Cornwall, an English county with a separate Celtic identity, has seen a campaign for its own assembly, backed by all five of the county's Liberal Democrat MPs.

Identity

According to the most recent census data, about 95% of the population of Scotland and Wales identify as White British, rising to 99% in Northern Ireland. The comparable figure for England is just under 85%. Therefore most of the British debate about ethnic diversity, immigration and national identity in fact applies to England.

This sensitive political question is further complicated by two factors.


Many England footballers are known the world over
First, British and English institutions and national identifiers such as flag, language, anthem and popular culture largely overlap. As a result, markers of specific English identity, such as the flag of St George, tend to be unofficial, while similar signs of Scottish and Welsh nationhood are sanctioned by the separate institutions of those countries.

Second, Scottish and Welsh nationalist movements have long been part of the political mainstream, and are seen as champions of legitimate historical national identities. English nationalism, on the other hand, is more often portrayed as a reaction to non-white immigration and the exclusive province of the neo-fascist right.

This makes public discussion of English identity politics difficult, as politicians on the left and right have discovered, as accusations of racism and appeasement of minorities are exchanged.

The one area where English identity is able to develop without political controversy is the realm of culture, and sporting teams are often the most comfortable focus for national loyalty.

Culture

England has made a number of major contributions to civilisation, perhaps the most significant being its language. Through a combination of British colonial expansion and trade, plus the world-power status of the United States since 1945, English has approached de facto international second language status.

Outside the large areas of the world where it is already an official if not first language, English predominates in international diplomacy and has become the main language in science, communications, business and the entertainment industry.

It is estimated that more than a billion people can speak English at a basic level. Among other cultural achievements, England's sporting life is followed worldwide, in particular its football Premier League and cricket team.

In terms of popular music, England's international impact has rivalled that of the United States from the Beatles to the club scene of the 1990s and beyond.

Law


English law - represented by TV character Rumpole - underpins a variety of legal systems abroad
English law underpins a variety of legal systems worldwide. A common-law system distinct from that practiced in the rest of Europe, it spread with the expansion of the British Empire and applies in many countries previously ruled by Britain.

Under common law, judges apply legal precedent in court on the basis of previous court rulings. This is distinct from civil law, the predominant legal system in the world, which requires judges to apply prior abstract rules to cases under consideration.

As the United Kingdom is a member of the European Union, European civil law is also applicable in England and Wales in matters pertaining to interpretation of European Union law.

FACTS


England
Status: Part of United Kingdom
Population: 50,762,900 (2006 UK estimate)
Capital: London
Area: 130,395 sq km (50,346 sq miles)
Major language: English
Major religion: Christianity
Life expectancy: 77 years (men), 82 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 pound sterling = 100 pence
Main exports: Manufactured goods, chemicals, foodstuffs
GNI per capita: US $38,000 (World Bank 2006)
Internet domain: .uk
International dialling code: +44

MEDIA

London is the hub of the media industry in England and the UK. The capital is a major centre for broadcasting, film and programme making, publishing and new media.

Most of the BBC's UK-wide TV and radio networks are based in London, although the corporation is moving some programme departments to Manchester, in north-west England.


BBC local radio serves communities from the Channel Islands to the Scottish border
The BBC and commercial operators run TV and radio services across the English regions. Local TV output often comprises a half-hour evening programme, featuring regional stories.

The BBC's English Regions local radio network comprises 40 stations, many of them serving a single county. Outlets follow a news and speech-based remit.

Local and regional commercial radio formats are often music-based. The radio market, particularly in London, is highly competitive.

The UK's national newspaper titles publish from London, although they have deserted their famous Fleet Street home.

There is a lively local and regional press scene; many dailies and weeklies are owned by large publishing groups. Some papers distribute free copies in an attempt to stem declining circulations.

The press

Evening Standard - London's evening daily
Manchester Evening News - north-west daily
Birmingham Post/Birmingham Mail - West Midlands stablemates
Yorkshire Post - Leeds-based daily Evening Chronicle - Newcastle-based daily
Western Morning News - Plymouth-based daily
Television

BBC English Regions regional TV ITV Local - regional services from leading commercial TV network
Radio

BBC English Regions local radio RadioCentre - commercial radio industry body
BBC London 94.9 FM - BBC's station for the capital
LBC - London, commercial, news and talk