Here’s a thing: Black and brown people can be born and bred in England, can do and become just about anything in and for England (including making the ultimate sacrifice for their country). But for some, we can be of England, we just cannot be English. Capisce? Because, as they see it and say it, the main ingredient of Englishness is whiteness.

For wisdom on this, as in all things, we turn to the former home secretary, would-be once-upon-a-time Conservative party leader Suella Braverman. Referring to non-white, largely non-Christian communities in England, of which she appears to disapprove, Braverman said: “Some in these communities may hold British passports and be born here. But does that make them English?”

According to most people, it does. When YouGov asked English adults a few years back, 81% of those canvassed said being born in England pretty much does it. Fifty-seven per cent said growing up in England was enough, 29% thought just “considering themselves English” was enough. Which rules out Braverman. All good.“Remember that you are an Englishman and have consequently won first prize in the lottery of life,” quipped the genocidal coloniser Cecil Rhodes. You doubt he had Maro Itoje, captain of the England rugby team or young Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, mixed-heritage son of an English prince, or any of their ilk in mind when he proclaimed this.

The belonging-driven desire to prove yourself........

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