Optimistic Patriot

Tweets linked to progressive patriotic blog from former Labour MP John Denham

[Optimistic Patriot @OpPatriot]

Sign up to The Optimistic Patriot blog and receive regular updates here https://t.co/9M3oarEl42

[Neal Lawson @Neal_Compass]

To transform the country and take on the populist right, Labour must hear and heed the voices of its radical realists - and build a principled, practical, popular left alternative.

Join @mainstreamlbr - together, we can bring that alternative to life.

https://t.co/SlAopwHRuz

[Optimistic Patriot @OpPatriot]

@cultfree54 Why?

[Optimistic Patriot @OpPatriot]

@Leveller44 Worked example of stupidity founded conspiracy theories. You made that up. Why? Genuinely bewildered. Though of course it doesn’t matter in the real world.

[Fraser Nelson @FraserNelson]

No one would seriously say Humza Yousaf is not really Scottish - it’s an inclusive identity. There are two definitions: ethnic and civic. Same is true for Englishness.

But it’s a free country: no one is obliged to call themselves anything. Not quite sure why the battle still seems to be raging…

[The Labour Party @UKLabour]

Labour stands with Ukraine.

[@politicalquarterly.bsky.social @po_qu]

Centralised by Design: Anglocentric Constitutionalism, Accountability and the Failure of English Devolution

@JYDenham and @janicemorphet in their latest article

https://t.co/tzQaDExkLo

#England #devolution #UKconstitution #localgovernment #combinedauthorities

[Centre on Constitutional Change @CCC_Research]

Our General Election Series with @UKandEU continues with @ailsa_henderson @RWynJones @JYDenham & John Garry exploring 'The New Territorial Agenda: National and Regional Devolution in the UK Post-Election'

Register & info: https://t.co/zFv9VfJapc

14 Nov
16:10-18:00
Edinburgh

[LabourList @LabourList]

'Labour needs to resist the Treasury insistence on controlling the purse strings that has undermined every devolution initiative since the 1990s.'

John Denham writes for us today on the Council of Nations and Regions:

https://t.co/xlzaqNRpRi

[Optimistic Patriot @OpPatriot]

@FederateUK @JYDenham We do. No regional where regional identity stronger than English or British. There is a strong case for an English devo but wrong to pose them as alternatives.

[Optimistic Patriot @OpPatriot]

@ramshackle78 @JYDenham I think that’s hard to say.

[Optimistic Patriot @OpPatriot]

@FederateUK @JYDenham @moreincommon We do from the big BBC YouGov survey in 2018. No region in which more people held a strong regional identity than held a strong English or strong British identity. Does not mean one trumps the other - identities are layered.

[Professor Francis Davis @FrancisTDavis]

When Southampton was championing St George's Day as a progressive festival ( 2012) Seems to have caught on !
@LabourSatvir
Respect
@JYDenham

[Optimistic Patriot @OpPatriot]

@AaronBastani @jemgilbert @JYDenham The delight of serious intellectual engagement

[LabourList @LabourList]

"It’s a sad truth that local elections often run against the party in power. If Labour becomes the government after the general election, mayoral elections may become increasingly difficult to defend and to win," LabourList columnist @JYDenham writes: 👇 https://t.co/xPfH1WCh6O

[Sunder Katwala @sundersays]

English football is the force that has done most to increase confidence in an English pride we can all share. Messing around with flags can be a needless distraction. A bridging agenda broadens the meaning of the existing flags we can share (2021 data)
https://t.co/qcW91qjcTx

[New Local @wearenewlocal]

"The next government has a core strategic choice: limp on with existing silos and patch over fragmentation ad hoc, or more fundamentally rewire how resource flows to meet community needs."

@JYDenham & @jesstud make the case for Total Place 2.0 👇👇

https://t.co/o3zq4NkyKG

[LabourList @LabourList]

If the next govt can't spend more to fix councils' cash woes, it can spend better.

Read @JYDenham on why reviving a radical idea pioneered by New Labour - place-based budgets - could reap rewards.

He's done a report with @jesstud of @wearenewlocal 👇

https://t.co/cgYdLnhc0o

[Ibrahim Dogus @ibrahim_Dogus]

Looking forward to supporting the fundraiser for @darrenpaffey @CllrTomHayes & @LabourSatvir with brilliant speakers @wesstreeting @bphillipsonMP & @JYDenham Tickets are now available.
🎟️Get yours today at https://t.co/EoD8KWh4aJ
Hope to see you there! @SME4LABOUR

[English Labour Net. @EngLabNet]

"Once in government... issues of identity will soon be back. Whether it is defending a cohesive society against right-wing populism or sorting out relationships across the UK, Labour will need to get its language and geography right."

ELN Director @JYDenham in @LabourList ⬇️

[LabourList @LabourList]

"The truth is that there is very little difference in the way England’s voters perceive the inclusiveness of their national identities."

@JYDenham argues new polling challenges Labour assumptions about the inclusivity of 'Englishness' and 'Britishness': https://t.co/dzDcCFY2Dx