Patriotism is noble ideal unifying our wonderful country
IN THE wintry gloom shines the light of real hope. After the long, hard months of crisis, the end of the cruel pandemic is now in sight. Yesterday’s inspiring announcement that Britain has become the world’s first nation to approve the use of an effective Covid vaccine is not only a giant leap for humanity but also a historic moment for national pride. As the rollout programme begins, our country has emerged as a global beacon in the fight against the virus.
But there was another reminder this week of Britain’s special character, highlighted in the passionate Commons debate over the introduction of the new, localised tiers to replace the national lockdown. The revolt by 55 backbench MPs against the proposal may have been a heavy blow to the Government’s authority but it also illustrated the strength of our democracy.
Acting in accordance with their principles rather than the dictates of party whips, rebels showed that the Parliamentary system, which Britain pioneered centuries ago, is far from broken and the response to coronavirus has often shown Britain at its best.
THERE have certainly been institutional failures, like the expensive testing regime, but those are counterbalanced by the British public’s resilience, stoicism and self- sacrifice. It is a spirit epitomised by the fundraising centenarian Captain Sir Tom Moore, a quintessentially British figure in his mix of modesty and determination. It can also be found in the heroics of NHS staff, the diligence of other key workers, the compassion of community volunteers and the generosity of charitable donors. Covid could have torn apart our society. Instead the disease brought us together.
The experience of recent months has reinforced my love of Britain but that feeling is ingrained within me. My soul always stirs at uplifting manifestations of Britishness, such as the Last Night of the Proms or sporting triumphs or tales of wartime endeavour by the RAF.
But my attachment to Britain can also be found in other, less obvious aspects of our national life. George Orwell, the great chronicler of British patriotism, wrote in 1941 that our identity was bound up with “smoky towns and winding roads, green fields and red pillar boxes”. For me that profound fondness can be evoked by the sight of the sunset on a Thanet beach or smell of battered cod or the sound of a London Tube train.
“What I love is Britain, the whole place, every nook and cranny. This is my island,” wrote the Scottish historian Neil Oliver in a compelling essay last week. Yet such unabashed patriotism is out of fashion in our cultural elite. Intellectuals and celebrities like to signal their political virtue with sneers about Britain’s decline, an attitude summed up in actress Emma Thompson’s diatribe about our “cake- filled, misery- laden grey old island”.
Similarly, jet- setting globalists seek a world without borders to match their rootless lifestyles, while ideological Europhiles see traditional nationhood as a barrier to federal unity. Worst of all is the woke brigade, which treats our heritage as nothing more than a narrative of exploitation, conquest and bigotry.
But the declinists, pro- EU fanatics and social justice warriors could not be more wrong. British patriotism is not an insular, aggressive creed. On the contrary it is a noble ideal that unifies our society through a mutual sense of belonging and a shared identity. Far from being a vehicle for hostility, it promotes compassion and responsibility. Without those
bonds, our country would be nothing more than a land mass inhabited by atomised individuals and discordant groups.
With the advent of the Covid vaccine and Brexit, there is now a golden opportunity to renew that sense of national pride. We are at a crucial turning point in our island story, as we prepare to be liberated from viral malignancy and Brussels bureaucracy. Our nation must seize this moment and it can do so by building on all the unique assets we have.
AS THIS paper’s new Brilliantly British campaign demonstrates, we are world- beaters in so many fields, from food to fashion. Still one of the top manufacturers thanks to our expertise in areas like aviation and pharmaceuticals, we also wield enormous cultural power, not least through the prevalence of the English language and the popularity of British entertainment. Our institutions are strong, our monarchy secure. Our record on the rule of law and racial tolerance is unrivalled. British grit has also seen us through the Covid crisis. British pride will ensure a brighter future.
‘ Our country has emerged as a global beacon in the Covid fight’