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London is our first love
Jonathan Prynn and Nicholas Cecil09.03.09
Londoners see themselves more than ever as a tribe apart who identify with their city ahead of their country.
Almost nine years of having a Mayor has hugely strengthened the sense of "local patriotism", according to a constitutional expert.
Vernon Bogdanor, professor of government at Oxford University, told MPs that the Mayor had become a "Mr London" figure who had made it easier to cast off national loyalties.
In evidence to the Commons communities committee he said: "The experience of London has shown that the mayoral option seems to have stimulated a sense of belonging to London, a sense of 'Londonness' which may even be stronger than the sense of Englishness."
Professor Bogdanor said the mayoralty had helped foster civic pride among the 7.5million population of what has been described as the "world's most cosmopolitan city".
The academic highlighted an Ipsos-Mori report which concluded that for many, London was "a much stronger determinant of identity than any other local, regional or national boundary".
The capital's diversity has been increased by the economic boom and its reputation as a tolerant melting pot.
It has a larger range of communities than any other city, with more than 300 languages spoken at its schools. Surveys show almost every race on earth is represented and there are more than 50 non-British communities with populations of 10,000 or more. About a third of the inhabitants were born abroad.
The professor, whose views are revealed in a book, The New British Constitution, due to be published next month, said the mayoralty had allowed the "city state" of London to promote itself in a way that the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly had for their electorates.
Tracy De St Aubin, 36, a local government officer from Ladbroke Grove who has lived in London all her life, said: "I would definitely describe myself as a Londoner, rather than British or English, it is part of who I am. I am proud to say it.
"People are trying to make the city more European but we should hang on to what London is famous for - it's sense of community and the bond people from London share."
Laura Gilbert, 29, an advertising executive from Streatham who has lived in London all her life, said: "I don't know if it's anything to do with the Mayor, it's more about what London means to me - it's red buses and black cabs.
"Having a Mayor has given the city a bit more colour but I would not attribute it to that. I describe myself as Londoner, rather than as English. My family is here, I will raise my children here and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."
Successful foreign-born Londoners agreed with Professor Bogdanor. County Mayo-born restaurateur Oliver Peyton, who has lived in the capital since 1979, said: "I am a Londoner who was born in Ireland.
"I am immensely proud of London, it is the greatest city in the world. It is a tolerant, good place to live and every time I come back from abroad I think, 'This is the right place for me'.
"New York always feels like it is quite segregated but London is not."
South African born interior designer Kelly Hoppen said: "I am really proud to be a Londoner."
Italian City insurance underwriter Lino Linoli, who has lived in the capital for 16 years, said the "I am a Londoner" point comes after about 10 years.
He said: "When I land at Heathrow now, I feel like I am at home."
Reader views (6)
Of course we are londoners first, and have a grand tradition of being so- it was "londoners" in the 13th c who barricaded the Queen in the tower. It was Londoners who the venerable bede in the 8C said of " a city of all nations" and for Steve in particular - of course Mr Johnson - so Steve if you are tired of London..........
- Jc, se1
Leila Deen is a self obsessed, publicity seeking, immature, intellectually challenged air-head, who has damaged the green cause, and shown she has, at best , a tenuous grasp of democratic debate. As for journalists who have written approvingly of her childish antics, they should be mature enough to know better. Much as I dislike Mandleson, he is working to sort out the economic morass we are all in. He deserves better.
- Ron Oldham, Bournemouth
It is still my first love even though I left 40 years ago.
- Jenny, san francisco ca ( ex-londoner)
In what language did these people declare this?I only ask as no one here seems to speak English anymore.
It's good for crime,filth and ripping people off,I'll give it that.
- Steve, London
I would definitely say that I live in London but not England. If you picked up London and dumped it in the middle of the Sahara I would still want to live here. It's the greatest city on Earth.
- Kate, London, UK
England terrifies me, but London is my favourite place in the world.
- Charlie, Soho, London
