Prime Minister says he is ‘very encouraging’ of people flying national flags
The Prime Minister has said he is “very encouraging” of people flying national flags, but said they can be devalued when flown “purely for divisive purposes”.
The widespread flying of Union and St George’s Cross flags, following an online campaign called Operation Raise the Colours, has become contentious and several local authorities have removed them from public infrastructure.
Some politicians have decried their removal, while others claim the increased number of flags is a result of xenophobia or racism.
Racist
Asked on Monday whether people putting up the Union and St George’s Cross flags in the wake of asylum hotel protests could be considered racist, Sir Keir Starmer told BBC Radio 5 Live: “I am supporter of flags.”
He added: “I am the leader of the Labour Party who put the Union Jack on our Labour Party membership cards. I always sit in front of the Union Jack. I’ve been doing it for years, and it attracted a lot of comment when I started doing it.”
The Prime Minister also said his family has “got St George’s flag in our flat” in Downing Street.
He went on: “I’m very encouraging of flags. I think they’re patriotic and I think they’re a great symbol of our nation.
“I don’t think they should be devalued and belittled. I think sometimes when they’re used purely for divisive purposes, actually it devalues the flag.
“I don’t want to see that. I’m proud of our flag.”
On Friday, Durham County Council issued a statement about the recent increase in the number of Union flags and St George’s Cross flags on lampposts.
The Reform-led council said that while it understood and respected people’s desire to show national pride, public safety should not be compromised.
It will take a “risk-based approach” and it will remove flags where they pose a danger to road-users, obstruct visibility for drivers or pedestrians, or if they are poorly secured.
Removed flags
Councils in other local authorities, including Tower Hamlets in east London and Birmingham, have also recently removed flags.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch previously said it is “shameful” of councils to remove St George’s Cross flags and said local rules were being enforced “selectively”.
Writing in the Daily Mail in August, she said the flying of English flags should be “welcomed”, rather than be “seen as an act of rebellion”.
“After years of politicisation by those who seek to diminish England’s culture and Christian heritage, it is encouraging to see English flags flown proudly as symbols of unity, nationhood and optimism,” she said.
Support our Nation today
For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.
Annibyniaeth nawr! That is independence now or be forever trapped in Starmers’/Badenochs’/Farages’ hate project. WE cannot wait for them to decide to keep us or throw us away otherwise we will be independent by default and not by our own decision and throw away won’t happen when the interests of the British Empire are in play. By November, we will have six months only to state our case and see off an existential threat. Senedd? Be warned.
If reform get a foothold, we lose our language, our culture, our communities and the safety of our children. Why do people struggle to see the awful destruction that these parties want to do?
Starmer running away from racists.
There is room for national flags, there is also no room for racists that use the same flags. Starmer just enabled the latter.
Badenoch, Farage and Starmer should know that flying flags on lampposts throughout the UK is unlawful and it is the responsibility of County Councils to remove them and apprehend those responsible. Starmer’s love of the Union Jack does not extent to many people in Wales for successive UK governments are, and have been, extremely dismissive of Wales in that they are absolutely delighted to fly the Butcher’s Apron even though Wales is not represented on it. Would they be just as happy to fly the Union Jack if England wasn’t represented on it. No way!
There are flags and then there are flags that can get one banged-up for fourteen years…
Inconsistency of thought for the last twelve months, we are Sweeney and Jones’ guinea pigs…
Unless London Labour start deploying some shock and awe that leaves their opponents completely ideologically disoriented, they are in danger of sleepwalking into the same fate as their American cousins who gifted the throne back to Trump with an even bigger majority.
Again I disagree. Use of English flag is promoting racism and hate.
“The Prime Minister also said his family has ‘got St George’s flag in our flat’ in Downing Street”
Is he the UK PM or FM of England?
He’s English. The flat is his private home. Though I find it a bit odd to have a flag actually inside your home!