Liam Fox quotes Anglospherists
I notice with interest that Conservative leadership hopeful Liam Fox quotes James C Bennett's Anglosphere Challenge in his Telegraph article.
| To my mind there are three strands which, when woven together, create the fabric of our national identity. Our history. Our culture. Our unique institutions. Together they have created as much a way of thinking as anything else. Our shared experience has led to a shared outlook. In his book, The Anglosphere Challenge, James C Bennett talks about a shared set of values in which Magna Carta, trial by jury, "innocent until proven guilty", "a man's home is his castle" and "a man's word is his bond" are common themes. To these he might have added a basic commitment to fair play or support for the underdog. |
James C Bennett was of course talking about themes common to the Anglosphere rather than just the home nations of the UK. That Liam Fox should use this quote betrays the fact that in his view other countries, outwith the Anglosphere, do not share these qualities - EU countries for example.
| The history of Britain does not follow any European pattern. During our civil war, the country was split ideologically - not by any sense of tribalism. At the end of our civil war, England - uniquely - restored the crown. Parliament found an accommodation with the monarchy, managed by few other countries. The Glorious Revolution was also a bloodless one, modernising the role of the monarchy a century before France's violent spasms. |
Well said Liam. It's telling that Liam Fox has chosen to align himself so publicly with Anglospherists, all of whom believe that the UK should leave the EU, and the majority of whom support Newt Gingrich's proposition that the UK should join NAFTA.
The Anglosphere concept - drawing on shared traditions, civil society and free-market economics - is one that should sit easy with Conservative principles. The spread of the Anglosphere meme has been meteoric because the idea has merit. That this meme is now bouncing round the temples of senior members of the Consertative Party is cause for celebration amongst EU-sceptics.
Links: The Anglosphere Primer | The Anglosphere Institute
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