There are several points worth separating and developing in this thread. Can't do much on it now as I've just got back from the Folk Club (and discussion afterwards) 5 pints worse for wear.

The problem seems to be that everyone's allowed to have a cultural identity apart from the English. There are Left, Right and Middle of the political road justifications for this. Because the Left, Centre and mainstream Right go along worth this (for their own reasons), it's left a vacuum for the Racist Right* to fill.

A sad consequence is that anything seen as trying to promote an English cultural identity (Folk music, morris dancing, St Georges Day etc) is seen as probably racism motivated.

*very important to differentiate between the Racist Right and the Economic Right. The real Fascists are the Econimic Right. To call the Racist Right "Fascist" is politiclly stupid. The Economic Right would have no problem fielding a Junta of Black Lesbians to front a real Fascist state.