Census should include black English and Asian English options, says MP

The next census should include more ethnicity options to allow people to define themselves as black English or Asian English, according to a group of MPs. Babarinde's proposal, dubbed the "St George's Bill", aims to broaden the options and its supporters include Labour's David Lammy and Conservative Sir James Cleverly.

It was tabled in the House of Commons on Tuesday. In his speech to introduce his private member's bill (PMB), Babarinde told MPs he is a "proud Englishman" and has "proud Nigerian heritage".

He said: "But my parents and I were born in England, we grew up in England, our home is in England, yet some voices attempt to reduce Englishness to a skin colour and to a bloodline. "Well, if we're going to go down that path, my mum's side of the family has been English for as far back as we have traced." He added "English ethnicity is real" before arguing it is a "matter of historical fact that it has never been one bloodline" and "even our Royal Family has German roots".