Ian McKellen and award-winning playwright James Graham have released a short film titled Love Letter to England ahead of England's first knockout match of the World Cup. The film attempts to answer what it means to be English, drawing on early contributions to the National Conversation, a UK-wide initiative launched last month.
Exploring shared identity
The film celebrates commonalities among people across the country. Members of the public are invited to leave a 60-second voice note sharing their views on supporting the England team, belonging, and the kind of country they want to live in. The project is part of the Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion, co-chaired by former Conservative minister Sajid Javid and former Labour MP Jon Cruddas.
Graham stated: "This is one of the most urgent areas of focus that we should be looking at, on a government and a local level. We all know it. We all feel it in our hearts that the social bonds and the things that connect us, or traditionally have connected us, are fraying and breaking."
Fraying social fabric
Graham, who wrote the play Dear England about Gareth Southgate's tenure, noted that this fraying is particularly evident in areas like north Nottinghamshire, where he grew up. He linked anger over social decline to political backlash. "There's no high street, the collapse of town centres and actual places to gather and be together as a community," he said. "The rhythm of our lives has changed. We are lonelier, more isolated and more alienated."
The commission, convened by the charity Together Coalition co-founded by Brendan Cox, aims to develop a shared vision for the country's future amid deep political and social division. Graham praised the grassroots approach: "The reason this commission nailed it is that rather than being top down, it's grassroots: you tell us what you want."
Collective effervescence
For Graham, events like the World Cup foster "collective effervescence," a term from 20th-century French sociologists describing the fizz of shared experience. However, he acknowledged discomfort around Englishness for some, saying, "I think that's unforgivable." He urged progressives not to abandon Englishness or its symbols.
Recent polling shows the number of people who believe "Britishness" is something you are born with has almost doubled in two years. A significant proportion of Reform UK supporters consider being white an important national characteristic and believe Britain has become too ethnically diverse.
Graham highlighted a moment when Rishi Sunak, giving evidence to the commission, described himself as "British, English and British Asian." From submissions, Graham noted "real pride in locality and place," but also a feeling among some of not being as proud of their country. "We have to listen to people about what they miss," he added.
