The political science of the entrenchment of English nationalism

Can the new nationalists be arrested? Allstar Picture Library Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo

If, as Chris Mullin argues, a new nationalist populism has taken over the Conservative Party, how far will it go? Ultimately, of course, it depends on how long he can dominate Parliament. We learned a lot about his chances this spring.

It was immediately evident that the 2016 referendum could redraw the political map: the towns in England’s rust belt, traditionally solidly Labor, “disobeyed” their party and opted for the holiday. The following year, after the Tories took a Brexit turn, they lost Remain dreads such as Canterbury and Kensington in Theresa May’s failed elections. Then, after two years …