Last Wednesday Parliament adopted a Bill, which, if it becomes law, will give England her own national anthem. Many foreigners would, I’m sure, be incredulous that this should be necessary in the first place, particularly since most people assume (including many in the British Isles) that “God Save The Queen” is England’s national anthem.

It is not, “God Save The Queen” is the anthem of the United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) but since England doesn’t have her own national anthem the anthem of the UK is  used at English sporting occasions. This has always struck me as a little unfair. All other members of the Union have their own national anthems so why can’t England? Why should the English need to appropriate an anthem belonging to the UK as a whole?

The anomaly should be quickly corrected and England should have her own national anthem with immediate effect. The front runners seem to be “Land of Hope and Glory” (a throwback to music hall jingoism and more Hope than Glory these days!) followed by “Jerusalem” which, of course, is a hymn about our country’s Christian values rather than a foreign city.

Both are beautiful, moving and stirring anthems and if sung at English sporting occasions would, I’m sure, give us a huge lift. That alone would swing it for me since, let’s be honest, most English sports teams (with the obvious exception of our cricketers!) need all the help they can get these days!