If Britain's young don't understand our history, we risk French-style chaos
As an Anglo-Scot, I had a dog in the fight that was the Scottish independence referendum 12 years ago. I was a visceral opponent of the dismemberment of the United Kingdom, which, I believed, would damage all of us in the British and Irish Isles. As the UK’s ambassador to the UN in 2014 put it, “it was clear that Scottish independence would have had a devastating impact on the UK’s standing in the world, much greater than withdrawal from the EU ever would”.
TL;DR
- A new book, 'Our Islands’ Story: A Better Story about Britain,' aims to provide a coherent historical narrative for Britons.
- The book counters the simplistic equation of 'Empire equals Evil' and addresses concerns about divisive racial identity politics.
- It acknowledges Britain's history of failures and horrors, such as civil war, slave-trading, and famines.
- The book highlights valuable traditions and institutions, including a long history of racial equality, such as the anti-slavery movement and resistance to racial segregation.
- The authors believe understanding this legacy is crucial to avoid taking privileges for granted and potentially destroying them.