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The genius of Britain’s anti-intellectualism

The UK is cosmopolitan because it doesn’t overthink

    • British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty hosting a reception to celebrate Diwali in London on Nov 8, 2023. Compared with other nations, there is a relative absence of identity discourse in the UK.
    • British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty hosting a reception to celebrate Diwali in London on Nov 8, 2023. Compared with other nations, there is a relative absence of identity discourse in the UK. PHOTO: REUTERS

    Janan Ganesh

    Published Mon, Jan 8, 2024 · 05:53 PM

    LOOK, this is becoming awkward now.

    Britain’s prime minister? Asian. London’s mayor? Asian. Scotland’s first minister? Asian. His main opponent? Asian. As for the probable next chairman of the BBC, he isn’t Cornish.

    “Chin up, son,” I keep wanting to say to friends in the ethnic majority. “These jobs come round again.”

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