The United Kingdom faces a conflict that grows fiercer all the time. At odds are a historic respect for sovereignty and western civilization versus the sweeping wave of multiculturalism, globalism, and political correctness. This conflict was on display as one of Britain’s most famous entertainers of the last half-century, the Monty Python comedian John Cleese, criticized the loss in English identity. He tweeted that “some years ago I opined that London was not really an English city any more.” Cleese continued, “Since then, virtually all my friends from abroad have confirmed my observation. So there must be some truth in it.”
For that, the internet erupted among those who demand political correctness, falsely accusing Cleese of being racist. But Cleese stood his ground, observing that “it’s legitimate to prefer one culture to another.”
Cleese is an icon of British humor, perhaps best known for his Monty Python skit “The Ministry of Silly Walks.” In it he portrays a government worker in charge of approving grants to develop silly walks, and Cleese’s own hilarious way of walking to his job caused fans to urge him to reprise his silly walk throughout his career.
But his criticism of the wrong turn taken by London and their radical Mayor Sadiq Khan is not silly at all, and is proven by many statistics. For example, last year the murder rate in London increased to its highest level this decade, often by gruesome stabbings and including at least one shocking murder by machete.
Cleese, though not known to be generally conservative, explained what London has become. “I suspect I should apologise for my affection for the Englishness of my upbringing, but in some ways I found it calmer, more polite, more humorous, less tabloid, and less money-oriented than the one that is replacing it.”
The anti-Trump mayor of London predictably criticized Cleese’s comments. “Londoners know that our diversity is our greatest strength. We are proudly the English capital, a European city and a global hub.”
On his state visit in June, President Trump properly embraces English culture rather than apologizing for it. So should British royalty and all of England.
