Eastbourne MP tables Bill calling for UK census to include 'Black English' and 'Asian English' options
Eastbourne MP Josh Babarinde has called for more options in the census to allow people to identify as black and English or Asian and English.
The Liberal Democrats MP tabled the St. George’s Bill in Parliament on Tuesday (November 10).
The private members’ bill would see the census in England include ‘Black English’ and ‘Black Asian’ options.
In a statement, Mr Babarinde said: “I’m putting forward the St. George’s Bill because as an Eastbourne lad born and bred, I’m a proud Englishman. Englishness is about more than the colour of your skin.
“Most people in this country already agree that you don’t have to be White to be English. Just look at the England football team. But our census hasn’t properly caught up.
“Scotland and Wales already let people say they’re ‘Scottish Asian’ or ‘Black Welsh’. England should do the same, with options like ‘Black English’ and ‘Asian English’, in addition to the existing ‘White English’ one.
“This Bill is about standing up to those who seek to divide us and bringing people together around our shared Englishness.”
The proposal comes after Mr Babarinde challenged Reform UK MP Suella Braverman to debate him on her stance that she cannot claim to be English, despite being born and educated in the country.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy posted on X to say he was ‘proud’ to co-sponsor the Bill.
He wrote: “It is absurd that neither I nor my mixed heritage children can describe ourselves as Black or mixed race and English on the census.”
Conservative MP James Cleverly was another politician to back the Bill.