MP urges census to include black English and Asian English options
UK MPs led by Wera Babarinde are pushing to add Black English and Asian English options to the next census to better reflect modern identities.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- UK MPs are pushing for Black English and Asian English options in the upcoming census
- The 2021 census restricted the term English solely under the white ethnic category
- Wider regions like Wales and Scotland already offer categories like Black Welsh and Scottish Asian
- The Private Members' Bill is scheduled for a second reading debate on April 23, 2027
A group of members of parliament in the United Kingdom, spearheaded by Wera Babarinde, is campaigning to introduce broader ethnicity options in the upcoming census, allowing citizens to officially define themselves as Black English or Asian English.
During the 2021 census, the ethnic group section listed the term English exclusively under the white category. Babarinde pointed out that despite being born and raised in England with deep roots in the country, certain political voices continue to attempt to gatekeep Englishness by associating it strictly with skin colour and bloodline.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Highlighting the limitations of the current system, Babarinde noted that while the form provides designations such as Black British and Asian British, it fails to offer an equivalent for English. By contrast, censuses in Wales and Scotland already feature categories including Black Welsh and Scottish Asian, leaving England with little more than a miscellaneous write-in margin.
"It is quite absurd that neither I or my mixed heritage children can describe themselves as black or mixed race and English on our census form."
David Lammy
David Lammy, a former deputy prime minister, issued a statement strongly endorsing the push, describing it as absurd that individuals of mixed heritage cannot identify as Black or mixed race alongside being English on official government forms, while calling for an end to outdated racial gatekeeping.
This legislative push highlights ongoing debates surrounding national identity and multiculturalism within the United Kingdom. While broad umbrella terms like British are widely used, regional identities such as English, Welsh, and Scottish carry distinct cultural weight. Expanding census categories aligns England with administrative frameworks already successfully adopted by Scotland and Wales, addressing long-standing criticisms regarding representation.
Babarinde formally introduced the Private Members' Bill, officially titled the English Ethnic Identity (census particulars) Bill, to the House of Commons via the 10-minute rule process. He requested that the bill return to the Commons for its second reading debate on April 23, 2027, coinciding with St George's Day, though analysts suggest the bill is unlikely to progress further in its current form due to parliamentary time constraints.
Source: BBC Politics
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