TheLittle Englanders were a British political movement who opposed empire-building and advocated complete independence for Britain's existing colonies.^[1][2] The ideas of Little Englandism first began to gain popularity in the late 18th century after theloss of the American colonies, but later came to be strongly associated as a reference to members of theLiberal Party who opposed further expansion of the British Empire.^[3] The term "Little Englander" itself was first recorded in 1833, and was usually derogatory.^[4]

Since the 2010s, especially after the2016 Brexit referendum,^[5] the term has become a popular derogatory epithet for anEnglish nationalist^[2] who mistrusts theEuropean Union, international cooperation, andforeigners in general.^[6] "Gammon" has been used similarly in British political culture since 2012.^[7]

The original Little England movement originated among manufacturers inManchester and found support among journalists such asGoldwin Smith. The movement objected to theprotectionist stance ofBritish Canada, which was exemplified by thetariff increase of 1859.^{[clarification needed]} The English manufacturers resented paying taxes to defend a colony that imported few British goods, but exported so many to England. Moreover, it was believed that theUnited States could become a much more important partner, as it was already Britain's best customer outside Europe. There was also a social element to the movement. TheManchester School opposed the Empire for providingsinecures for the idle sons of thearistocracy at the expense of productiveindustrialists at home.^[8] The Little England stance was adopted by a wing of theLiberal Party typified byWilliam Gladstone (1809–1898), who opposed many of Britain's military ventures in the late 19th century. It is particularly associated with opposition to theSecond Boer War (1899–1902).Arthur Ponsonby wrote of the Liberal leader SirHenry Campbell-Bannerman's opposition to the Boer War: "The impression one got of him from the Press in those days was … that he was an unpatriotic Little Englander".^[9]

The term "little England" predates its political usage; the expression "this little England" was used in theGunpowder Day sermon of the EnglishPuritan preacherThomas Hooker (5 November 1626).^[10] It is also used inShakespeare's playHenry VIII (1601), when the Old Lady tellsAnne Boleyn: "In faith, for little England / You'd venture anemballing: / I myself would forCarnarvonshire."

The Cambridge online dictionary defines "Little Englander" as "an English person who thinks England is better than all other countries, and that England should only work together with other countries when there is an advantage for England in doing so".^[11] The term has been used in a derogatory manner for English people who are perceived as being excessivelynationalistic orxenophobic.^[12] It has also been applied to English opponents ofglobalism,multilateralism, andinternationalism.^[12][13] Since the 2010s, especially post-Brexit,^[5] the term has gained popularity as a derogatory way to describe English nationalists or xenophobes.^[2] For this reason, it is similar to the insult "gammon", which has been used in British political culture since 2012.^[7]

• Gammon (insult)
• Merry England

• Anti-imperialism in Europe
• Libertarianism in England
• Politics of England
• Resistance to the British Empire

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Wikipedia articles needing clarification from September 2022