# Andy Burnham backs Black English option on census

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/andy-burnham-backs-black-english-option-on-census/
- Published: 2026-11-12T15:51:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-12T22:40:41+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Express (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/2265749/andy-burnham-backs-black-english
- Topics: Government, Politics, UK, World

## Key points

- Josh Babarinde wants Black English and Asian English census options.
- The proposal has cross-party support, including from David Lammy.
- The Bill is due back in the Commons on 23 April 2027.

## Summary

Liberal Democrat MP Josh Babarinde has proposed adding census options such as Black English and Asian English, arguing that English identity should not be defined by skin colour or ancestry. The proposal follows a dispute after Reform UK MP Suella Braverman suggested only white people can be English, and has drawn support from MPs including David Lammy and Andy Burnham.

Babarinde says the current census places “English” under the white category, while offering Black British and Asian British options; he argues this leaves some people’s English identity marginalised. He cited figures including Rishi Sunak, David Lammy, Ian Wright, Lewis Hamilton and Cynthia Erivo, and said he had received death threats since introducing the Bill. The 10-minute rule Bill is unlikely to advance without Government backing and is due back in the Commons on 23 April 2027.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.