Well, allow me a bit of Anglophile correction on that one.
Recently, with the likes of a certain Mr. Stein and a chef named Gordon among others, English food, that is the real thing, is being rediscovered.
See, the thing is that real English food was in fact pretty good stuff in that it was simple and for the most part a rural fare. The poor reputation of industrial urban food is what many folks think about as English food, but in the true tradition it is not just that. Lots of fish and pork, lamb and beef. Good vegetables and simple yet ample stuff like Lancashire Hot Pots, Black Pudding (similar to French boudin).
The English are connecting again with that part of their history. It's positive all around.
Perhaps it's the unsavory names the British bestow upon some of their food that gives people a bad impression of their cuisine. To wit: "bangers and mash", "steak and kidney pie", and the most unfortunately named, "spotted dick".