"David, I hope that by mentioning me in the same post as saying that English folkies by and large perform music from other cultures you weren't suggesting I do that thing, because I'll remind you that out of 19 albums to date only two of them have been material other than traditional English material, and those two were self-penned. The contents of the latest self-penned out of those two contains 50% trad material in melody even. I have always been and remain committed to the playing and promulgation of English traditions, songs and music, more than most, and certainly more than you." (Eliza)...no I wasn't, believe it or not - I was going by the singing and instrumental sessions I've attended: NOT the competitions which usually REQUIRE local material and sometimes unaccompanied singing. (And I think that answers Stigweard and Volgadon as well - but I'll add that the Folk-degree Scots students I've seen at the Sage Gateshead perform mostly Scottish music, whilst the English students I've seen perform mostly non-English music.)
Surreysinger - I didn't have to look up "dullard," and I think only a dullard or a bigot would call someone with 4 technical certificates and a degree in humanities a dullard.
Volgadon - SINCE YOU ASKED, if you were born and live in Israel, I think you should practise and perform Israeli music, whilst appreciating the music of other lands.