The answer is that there is not yet a campaign devised for this single-issue alone, one that is planning to contest the elections in May - collectively yet at a local level. If we can form a candidate body specialising in the priority of English Independence in as many localities across the country, the vote for English Independence could be won locally – then on a NATIONAL scale.
Registered parties already do this but are only splitting the vote and competing with each other because of policy differences. This can NEVER happen with single-issue campaigns as they can replicate across the land much like a referendum. This is what the EIF hopes to become – an electoral referendum for the English people on a very topical debate – English Independence.
Our idea of independence isn’t just regional; we want to fulfil a notion of independence in terms of English culture and identity. Since the late 90’s English people have been in a quandary about what the English identity really is. Whereas Wales and Scotland had always believed they were nations in their own right, the concept of independence for England was always quite alien – we were the nationality that never was! All we asserted ourselves with was this new red and white flag and a demand for St Georges Day to become a bank holiday. The EIF want to establish a much firmer ground than this and realise far more about our true cultural identity. We can if we care to, trace our roots back to almost 2,000 years. We are also lobbying for a UNITED England rather than regional autonomy. Our opponents would happily divide England up into autonomous regions most probably governed by the European Union - this would be the death knell for the nation! The EU is at least beginning to recognise the smaller countries as nation-states so it is essential that our 38 historic counties work as one functioning English State. It was always known as the 39 historical counties of England but let us be the first English org to recognise CORNWALL as more than just a county. Cornwall has its history as a Celtic community along with its own language which should constitute a nation as much as Wales or the Isle of Man. On www.eurominority.org Cornwall has at least been recognised this way, England hasn’t! As rightful nation-states we can cooperate economically as well as maintain our identity.