Has Britain Lost its Soul?
A British student reflects on Europe’s enduring charm and questions what’s gone wrong at home, from cultural shifts to Glastonbury’s controversial moment.
Oscar English
Jul 3, 2025 - 1:22 PM
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The Soul of Europe
I’ve always loved travelling across Europe. There’s something deeply comforting about its rolling hills, its old town squares, each with their own character, yet somehow all part of the same shared story.
In Wrocław, I found myself sitting out in the colourful centre, sipping a drink and watching life unfold around me. Families laughing over dinner, kids playing well into the evening, the sky glowing with that soft, endless summer light.
It’s in moments like those that you feel the quiet strength of the West shaped over centuries by Christianity, the rule of law, free speech, and the freedom to build a better life.
From Bohemia’s stone bridges to the neat fairytale castles of Bavaria, Europe holds on to something precious. A sense of balance, beauty, and calm, even when the wider world feels uncertain and restless.
A Britain Adrift
The contrast with Britain today could not be starker. Ours, sadly, is a story of decline. A nation once proud, now adrift and losing touch with its core values.
We still boast remarkable traditions and cultural highlights from Wimbledon and Lords to Trooping the Colour, the Royal Highland Show, and St Andrews. And of course, there’s Glastonbury, perhaps the crown jewel of British music culture. A celebration of creativity and spirit, where legends like Elton John, Coldplay, The Rolling Stones, and Arctic Monkeys have mesmerised crowds with timeless music.
But something has changed.
Glastonbury’s Moment of Shame
This year, Glastonbury crossed a line. When the organisers invited acts like Bob Vylan and Kneecap, they weren’t just booking music, they were making a political statement.
As the BBC broadcast it live to the nation, Bob Vylan stood on stage and screamed, “Death, death to the IDF!” — a vile, anti-Israel chant cheered on not by music lovers, but by a crowd of hard-left activists wrapped in Palestinian flags.
He also led the crowd in chanting:
“From the river to the sea, Palestine must be, will be — inshallah — it will be free.”
Bob Vylan further provoked when he shouted:
“I heard you want your country back — shut the f** up — I heard you want your country back — uh-uh, you can’t have that.”
It’s a blunt message that the Britain the British want to reclaim no longer exists, and shouldn’t.
But the bigger question is this: how can a society allow such division where some groups call openly for violence abroad, while others are dismissed or silenced at home? How can our national broadcaster justify airing such hatred at a festival that once celebrated British cultural unity and joy? This is not the Britain I recognise.
Confronting Our National Divide
This isn’t just about a single performance or a controversial chant. It reflects a deeper fracture within our society, a growing intolerance that pits communities against one another instead of bringing them together. When calls for violence are broadcast so openly, and when voices advocating for hate go unchecked, we risk normalising division and hostility.
We need to ask ourselves: what kind of country are we becoming? A nation where free speech is weaponised to spread hate, and where respect for others is sacrificed on the altar of political point-scoring? This isn’t the Britain built on shared values of respect, tolerance, and unity.
If we are to reclaim our national identity, it must be one rooted not in exclusion or hatred, but in understanding, dialogue, and respect for all communities both at home and abroad.
Fighting for Britain’s Soul
This decline in moral clarity is not inevitable. In Europe’s town squares and public life, there are still signs of hope: of pride in heritage, faith in the future, and belief in what the West once was, and can be again.
When I was in Wrocław, I felt safe walking the streets, surrounded by a calm and welcoming atmosphere. The everyday normality — families out enjoying the evening, children playing without fear — stood in stark contrast to the unrest and tension so often reported elsewhere. It was a reminder that peaceful, secure public spaces still exist, even if they feel increasingly rare.
To reclaim that future, Britain needs real change, not just words, but honest, determined effort from all of us. It will take courage to confront the divisions that have taken hold and the toxic attitudes spreading through our institutions. We must find ways to bring people back together, rebuild trust, and live by the values that once made this country respected and strong.
I’d love to believe that energy and unity are still alive and well, but the truth is, too many people feel disconnected or simply don’t care anymore. That sense of shared purpose seems lost, and that makes the challenge even greater.
There’s no reason why we can’t be united as a nation. Our history, our traditions, and what we hope for tomorrow are far stronger than the things that try to pull us apart. The fight for Britain’s soul is hopefully far from over. We only need to step up, not just for ourselves but for the generations who come after us. They deserve a country worth inheriting.
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Oscar English
Politics & History student from Scotland