Burnham Backs “Black English” and “Asian English” Census Options to Take On “Poisonous Politics”

Updated 11 Nov 2026, 16:50 · First published 11 Nov 2026

Andy Burnham has signalled he will back a bid to let people describe themselves as “Black English” and “Asian English” on the census, saying he wants to “directly take on the poisonous politics” around who can be English.

The Prime Minister made the comments at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, in reply to Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey. He said he had not yet looked at the detail of the bill, but would want to support it.

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What would change?

At the 2021 census in England, “English” was only offered as an option within the white ethnic group. Babarinde’s bill would add Black English and Asian English categories, mirroring options already available in the Welsh and Scottish censuses.

Babarinde said the current set-up treats English people with Black and Asian heritage as “marginal”. The bill has cross-party support, including from Labour’s David Lammy, who said he and his mixed-heritage children cannot describe themselves as both Black or mixed race and English on the census.

“Poisonous politics”

Davey used his question to accuse some politicians of promoting the idea that only white people can be English, noting that Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch had rejected that view. The row follows comments last month by Reform UK MP Suella Braverman suggesting that only white people can be English.

Burnham replied that he would want to support the bill “to directly take on the poisonous politics”.

What happens next?

Ten-minute rule bills rarely become law on their own unless the government gives them time or adopts the idea. Burnham’s comments suggest ministers may now look at the proposal ahead of the next census.

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