https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-benefits-of-brexit
“The Benefits of Brexit” sets out how the UK is capitalising on the benefits of Brexit and how the government will use its new freedoms to transform the UK into the best regulated economy in the world.
Our Achievements so far
● Reintroduced our iconic blue passports. All new British passports are now blue, a return to their original appearance, with the colour first introduced in 1921, and updated to be the most technologically -advanced and secure British passports ever, with the carbon footprint from their manufacture reduced to net zero.
When the re-designed passports became available, Home Secretary Priti Patel said:
“Leaving the European Union gave us a unique opportunity to restore our national identity and forge a new path in the world. By returning to the iconic blue and gold design, the British passport will once again be entwined with our national identity and I cannot wait to travel on one.”
Britain is not a nation, although the constituent nations have national interests. And the people that live here have "national identity" interests. They - we - feel part of a real place that has prospered for a long time; that is a place of belonging that has nourished us, and that we want to preserve for our children. What Priti Patel means by "national identity" is "Global Britain", the brand thinking in "The Benefits of Brexit":
"Our departure from the EU has given us an unprecedented opportunity to forge new alliances and strengthen our partnerships around the world. The interests of the British people now lie at the heart of everything we do around the world—from our trade policy to our sanctions policy…."
“We now have control over our customs and border processes and are using that control to make the UK border the best in the world. We have control over our migration policy and have ended EU free movement replacing it with a points–based immigration system. We are free to negotiate our own trade deals around the world, tailored to our country. We are asserting our international voice with our own independent seat in international fora and the ability to move faster than the EU and go further without the need to reach consensus first….”
“Brexit allows us to streamline the regulation of UK ports, making them more competitive globally, helping to deliver our Global Britain ambitions. Our ports and freeports will bring new jobs and opportunities to the coastal communities, attract inward investment into the UK and become true global champions of innovation and connectivity. Our thriving ports will benefit consumers as cost savings are passed onto them. We will also provide greater opportunities for the cruise industry by allowing people to get married at sea….”
“Through education we can enhance existing international partnerships and encourage the forging of new relationships across the world. ... This academic year the Turing scheme will be able to support mobilities in over 150 destinations worldwide. The networks created help the UK forge lasting relationships with countries around the world and strengthen our Global Britain agenda.“
Essentially, the Global Britain agenda is that Britain's interests are economic interests; and that these interests affect Britain wholly as a market, not as a nation. The only aspects in “The Benefits of Brexit” that could be called "cultural" are abstract and symbolic: blue passports, crown pint mark on beer glasses, imperial measures. The nearest there is to any sense of these ancient nations is trade mark protection for some locally-specific products:
● Ensuring our iconic British products all get the recognition they deserve, through our own domestic Geographical Indication (GI) regime. British products from Stornoway Black Pudding to Scottish Salmon, Conwy Mussels to Welsh Lamb, Armagh Bramley Apples to Lough Neagh Eels, Melton Mowbray Pork Pies to Stilton Cheese and many more, are already protected.
Pritti Patel has been consistent throughout her career in saying that Britain would be better out of the European Union, but this only meant economic efficiency. She is part of a government of cosmopolitan urban liberals. None of them belong anywhere: they may have loyalties, but no-one believes that they are to any of the nations of the UK. For them, the population exists as a labour force, and immigration can only make Britain "more competitive".
There is more to life than being part of the labour force, but about that "The Benefits of Brexit" has nothing to say. This "Brexit Government" may not care about about "National Identity", but that doesn't mean that no-one does.