Middle England
Encyclopedia
The phrase "Middle England" is a socio-political and geographical term which originally indicated the central region of England
, now almost always referred to as the "Midlands".
The primary meaning of the term is now a political or sociological one (as is also the case for the term "Middle America" or "Middle Australia"). It principally indicates the middle class
es or lower-middle classes of non-urban England, but also carries connotations of "Deep England". The BBC
described the Kent town of Tunbridge Wells as the "spiritual home" of Middle England.
The term is used by journalists to refer to the presumed views of mainstream English people, as opposed to minorities of all types (the rich or the poor, ethnic minorities, gays and lesbians, the politically active, the intelligentsia
, etc.) In particular it is increasingly used to denote the more-right-wing views of those who are not in such minorities; Readers of The Daily Mail
, for example, are often characterised as being from Middle Earth, as are members of the Countryside Alliance
.. Residents of Middle England are also sometimes referred to as the "silent majority" or "moral majority" in the British media.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, now almost always referred to as the "Midlands".
The primary meaning of the term is now a political or sociological one (as is also the case for the term "Middle America" or "Middle Australia"). It principally indicates the middle class
Middle class
The middle class is any class of people in the middle of a societal hierarchy. In Weberian socio-economic terms, the middle class is the broad group of people in contemporary society who fall socio-economically between the working class and upper class....
es or lower-middle classes of non-urban England, but also carries connotations of "Deep England". The BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
described the Kent town of Tunbridge Wells as the "spiritual home" of Middle England.
The term is used by journalists to refer to the presumed views of mainstream English people, as opposed to minorities of all types (the rich or the poor, ethnic minorities, gays and lesbians, the politically active, the intelligentsia
Intelligentsia
The intelligentsia is a social class of people engaged in complex, mental and creative labor directed to the development and dissemination of culture, encompassing intellectuals and social groups close to them...
, etc.) In particular it is increasingly used to denote the more-right-wing views of those who are not in such minorities; Readers of The Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
, for example, are often characterised as being from Middle Earth, as are members of the Countryside Alliance
Countryside Alliance
The Countryside Alliance is a British organisation promoting issues relating to the countryside such as country sports, including hunting, shooting and angling...
.. Residents of Middle England are also sometimes referred to as the "silent majority" or "moral majority" in the British media.