# Burnham signals backing for more ethnicity options on next census

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/burnham-signals-backing-for-more-ethnicity-options-on-next-census/
- Published: 2026-11-11T15:47:21+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-11T16:35:51+00:00
- Original publisher: BBC Politics (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8dx160v9zrno?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
- Topics: Asia, Politics, World

## Key points

- Burnham signals support for new census identity options.
- Babarinde’s proposal would add Black English and Asian English categories.
- The next UK census is due in 2031.

## Summary

Andy Burnham has indicated he would support a proposal to add dedicated “Black English” and “Asian English” options to the 2031 census. The idea was introduced by Liberal Democrat MP Josh Babarinde, who argues that people should be able to describe these identities directly rather than rely on a free-text response.

Burnham said he had not seen the bill’s details, and did not confirm whether he would meet Babarinde or whether the government would make time for it to be debated. The 2021 census in England listed “English” under the white ethnic category, while Black English and Asian English could only be entered in a text box; arrangements differed in Wales and Scotland. Private members’ bills rarely become law without government support, and census questions are set in legislation following recommendations from the Office for National Statistics.

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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.