Yes we're all British, but something profoundly odd, and imo also profoundly wrong, has been visited upon the English people over the last 15 years or more and we very much need to talk about it,

And that's where we part company, Liz. The decaying of the root of being 'British' is far, far older than 15 years - 150 would be nearer the mark, I would say, and I don't think that the last 15 years are fundamentally distinctive.

Incidentally, I saw Show of Hands a year or two back where one of the intros was a story about when they were in a pub in Piddletown (if I remember correctly) and sang some songs collected from there - absolutely no recognition from the locals. After explaining the background, SK was told to wait until Old Fred came in because "he knows all the old songs."   After an hour or two in he came - and the old songs he knew were all commercial hits from around the 50's.
To my mind, it is that sort of loss he is talking about.

No doubt as a fan you've also heard that tale, and can probably remember it better than me.