Founder of ‘One Britain One Nation Day’ wants to roll it out across UK schools
The founder of ‘One Britain One Nation Day’ has said he wants to roll it out across UK schools.
Retired police inspector Kash Singh wants to take it “across the nation”, however it has been slapped down by the Welsh Government, which pointed out that education is devolved, and said it has not been “engaged” in the project.
Singh claimed that it has been “very, very successful indeed” in Bradford, West Yorkshire, where the concept was started.
The idea has been backed by the UK Government, with the Department for Education, which is responsible for schools in England, not Wales, saying it was encouraging schools across the UK to celebrate OBON Day on Friday, so that “children can learn about our shared values of kindness, pride and respect”.
The ‘One Britain One Nation’ day is on June 25th and includes singing the song “We are Britain and we have one dream to unite all people in one Great Team”.
The idea has been lampooned as “desperate” on social media.
A friendly reminder that if your children don't join in with the One Britain One Nation song on #OBONDAY21, the harvest will fail. pic.twitter.com/D2lOAadIwn
— The Poke (@ThePoke) June 23, 2021
Mike Jones said: “North Korean levels of propaganda, this. The Union is finished, just let it die peacefully.”
🎵 Strong Britain, Great Nation 🎶 pic.twitter.com/sLJVLD9YzO
— Hutch (@nolittleman) June 23, 2021
Walis George said: “What nonsense is this?! Britain is an island not a nation, while the UK is a political union made up of four nations.”
YesCymru committee member Niki Jones said: “If I told Mared this, at 6 years of age, she would already laugh in my face. She is so Welsh in her identity, she’d think I was joking with her or something.”
Paul Thomas said: “Strong Soviet Union vibes.”
Stace Williams said: “Everything about this is terrible, somebody fire the lyricist immediately.”
A spokesperson for the Welsh Government told Nation.Cymru: “Education is a devolved matter and the Welsh Government has not been engaged in this project.”
‘Very successful’
Singh told Times Radio: “We started the concept in Bradford and West Yorkshire, and it’s been very, very successful indeed, so what we want to look at is taking it across the nation.
“It was something that was born from my dream as a police officer, in terms of what I’d see, in terms of my passion, pride and frustration, and something that I feel needed to be done in this country.
“This country is a brilliant country. I came to this country as a six-year-old kid who couldn’t speak a word of English. My parents were labourers, they worked in a factory and foundry, and there are fantastic people in this country.
“One of the things that was missing for me was what we need to do, is we need an organisation that the people of this country can align themselves to, to showcase their passion, pride and love for this great nation.”
He added: “Some people may have this perception that not everybody is proud of this country – let me tell you, people like me, and the millions of people who’ve settled in this country from other parts of the world, are so proud of this country.
“I think we need to celebrate that and create this spirit of oneness and togetherness, and showcase that we’re all one people of this country regardless of where you’re from.”
The lyrics of the ‘We are Britain’ anthem include: “Our nation survived through many storms and many wars, We’ve opened our doors, and widened our island’s shores, We celebrate our differences with love in our hearts, United forever, never apart.”
It ends with the repeating lines “Strong Britain, Great Nation”.
‘Clap’
The event which aims to develop “a sense of civic pride by championing our shared values of British Citizenship” also includes encouraging every child to clap for a minute to recognise, embrace and pay tribute to all those people who helped during the Covid 19 pandemic crisis.
The UK Government’s Department for Education said: “We’re encouraging schools across the UK to celebrate One Britain One Nation Day on 25 June, when children can learn about our shared values of tolerance, kindness, pride and respect.”
So far, it seems that only schools in the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council area have signed up to take part in ‘One Britain One Nation’ day. Education in Wales is also devolved to the Welsh Government.
Among the aims of the organisation are to “promote, rejoice and celebrate the successes of our people under the common and collective identity of being British”.
Another aim is to “re-appropriate the flag of Great Britain so that it represents all people of good conscience, in order to promote and celebrate our common and collective identity”.
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How long before someone insists that we have a daily pledge of allegiance to the union jack in our schools? Forced patriotism isn’t going to save the union!
Don’t The Welsh Guards swear allegiance to the Queen of the UK?
Well, they’re part of the British army, so, Yes, obviously. This is about schools, though.
Cymro dw i 🏴
The could change it to ‘One Nation One Britain’ or ONOB for short.
This man Singh is clearly well-intentioned, but he just doesn’t get it; it’s four nations, not one, and his project is never going to take off outside England, if at all. This is one battle that Johnson isn’t going to win in his assimilation project.
Singh seems to have been assimilated too well accepting uncritically any old jingoistic nonsense.
I highly doubt it’ll take off in England, either. Most English aren’t that interested in flag-waving jingoism either, other than a small, vocal minority.
17.4 million of them seemed to be quite excited by jingoism
IS he well intentioned though? Or is he a cat’s paw funded secretly by Ideologue Tory donors? The “company” claims that he funds all activities out of his own pocket. Not sure a copper’s pension is THAT generous
The ‘One Britain One Nation’ day is on June 25th – that’s after Scots schools close for the summer. WElsh Govt has refused. So “One Nation” will be celebrated by (some of) the English. Which fits its attitude. Comes from a police officer mindset, impose control. Song is bad doggerel full of lies. Tories encouraging thoughts of independence again.
Who wrote the words Of “One Britain, one nation”? Perhaps you should check the whole back story before insulting an immigrant that made the most out of the opportunities that he was given?
The Austro-Hungarian Empire went out in a blaze of glory. The Brit one looks hell bent on going out in a Monty Python-esque sketch.
So long as it goes out soon I don’t much care
Welsh being the only native culture out of the four nations and we’re not even on the flag 😂 can’t even speak Welsh in commons, its been outlawed!! 🤣🤣🤣 “one Britain, one nation……. One language, one oppressor!“ hooray! *claps until hands bleeds*
Three nations. The Occupied Six Counties are part of the nation of Ireland.
Explain ‘Occupied’please.
Consult your history books sir!
History? Please explain to my great-grandchildren why so many of the castles in Wales have Norman Towers. They are frequent visitors to the many castles and love to learn about their history. You must be “The go-to Person” with all the answers?
Perhaps YOU should explain this to YOUR grandchildren. If you want them to accept your brainwashing you need to do it yourself
Maybe this is a ‘New Coke’ scenario? – “Here’s the new Unionism. No, you hate it? Ok, fine; here’s some more of the old fashion stuff”. Let’s all remember – coke is terrible for you, however it tastes.
One Britain, one nation.
Ein volk, ein reich.
Back in the days when I had some lingering British patriotism I was proud that we didn’t do this sort of thing, we were not like some other countries (USA). Then along came BREXIT and the Great British lurch to the political Right! I don’t recognise Britain anymore, it’s not that I’ve abandoned Britain it’s more like Britain abandoned me. 🏴🇪🇺🤔
Don’t give up hope. Plenty of English and Welsh still civilized, as the Amersham by election shows. The sharp elbowed will not prevail!