Beware Eurosceptic versions of history and science

Historians for Britain hope to shape the debate over Europe. We should question their narrative and our own assumptions about Britain's place in history and the history of science

Readers of the Guardian Science pages may not have noticed the group called Historians for Britain, or a recent piece in History Today by David Abulafia asserting their belief "that Britain's unique history sets it apart from the rest of Europe". Since it is a pressure group, connected to Business for Britain, that aims to use history to steer the debate over the EU referendum, it will probably become increasingly vocal. It requires critical scrutiny from everyone with an interest in Britain's relationship with the rest of the world, and in evidence-based political discussion.

Abilafia's article is a classic example of an old-fashioned "Whiggish" narrative. It claims a uniquely moderate and progressive advance toward the development of British institutions, traced continuously from Magna Carta and isolated from the rages and radicalism of the Continent. There has been a strongly negative response from historians on Twitter, sometimes suggesting their opposition as #HistoriansforEurope or, given the scathing reception of Abulafia's 'island nation' narrative, simply #HistoriansforHistory. A reply is being drafted for the pages of History Today and a piece by Neil Gregor has already appeared in The Huffington Post.