Prime Minister Andy Burnham says that he will get behind an effort to give people in Britain the option of describing themselves as Black English or Asian English on the census.
Mr Burnham was asked whether he would back a push to widen the census options, and he said he would, “to directly take on the poisonous politics”.
The challenge came from Sir Ed Davey at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, where the Liberal Democrat leader raised the question of the English Ethnic Identity (Census Particulars) Bill.
Mr Burnham replied: “I haven't looked at the detail of the Bill, but I stand here thinking that I would want to support that Bill to directly take on the poisonous politics that we've seen from some in this House who are seeking to divide us.
“We must move on from a decade of division and drift in this country, we must bring people back together. I am interested in working with anyone in this House who shares that aim.”
The legislation was drafted by Liberal Democrat Josh Babarinde, who argued that the current situation treats English people with Black and Asian heritage as “marginal”.
Mr Babarinde argued that the Bill takes “nothing away from anyone” and only adds choices that reflect how people already see themselves.
He presented the 10-minute rule Bill to the Commons on Tuesday.
The MP for Eastbourne said that there have been attempts to “reduce Englishness to a skin colour and to a bloodline”.
The Bill has drawn cross-party support, including from Labour's former deputy prime minister David Lammy, but it will need Government backing to progress.
The row at the heart of the debate was sparked in October by Reform UK MP Suella Braverman, who suggested that only white people can be English.
Sir Ed had earlier told the Commons: “Our politics is being affected by poisonous ideas, like the idea that people born and raised in England can't be English because they're not white.
“Shamefully, even some in this House have argued for this racist ideology. We must reject it, as the Conservative leader (Kemi Badenoch), to her great credit, has done.
“We should start with the census, where the only English option, when you’re asked about your ethnicity, is white English.”
The next census will be held in 2031.
