This summer saw a surge in the flying of the St George’s flag across England. Presently, it is hard to walk around England’s streets without seeing one hanging from a lamppost or painted on a roundabout. But the enhanced visibility of the English flag has been met with significant criticism. Many see it as a symbol of provocation and intimidation, rather than a display of national pride and patriotism.
We are not in America
Unlike America, where the national flag is everywhere and at all times, in England, the flag of St George mainly comes out for royal jubilees, remembrance, and major sporting events like the FIFA World Cup or the Euros. With the Lionesses making history this summer by defending their 2021 Euros victory and bringing the trophy home again, it was no surprise to see the flag of England being proudly flown everywhere. Not only did it mark a celebration of victory, but also a celebration of the growth of women’s football. As tens of thousands of people lined the mall, gleefully waving their flags in support of the women’s team, it was clear that their victory had brought people together and boosted national pride.
One of the standout players of the tournament who saved England on several occasions was Michelle Agyemang. The 19-year-old forward scored crucial equalisers against Sweden in the quarter-final and Italy in the last hour after coming off the bench. Michelle’s success arguably shows that England is at its best when it champions diversity and inclusivity. Race and ethnicity should not matter, and should not be conditions of what it means to be ‘English.’ The English flag should be used to unite people, not pitch them against each other by emphasising racial differences.
Hijacking nationality
And yet, the flag is being hijacked by far-right groups intent on dividing rather than uniting the nation. These groups perpetuate the familiar ‘Us vs Them’ rhetoric under the veil of patriotism and nationalism, stating the threat of immigration and the so-called erosion of English culture as justification for this radical behaviour.
Flags first started to appear in the suburbs of Weoley Castle and Northfield in Birmingham, where a group called the Weoley Warriors claimed responsibility. They stated that they were a ‘group of proud English men with a common goal to show Birmingham and the rest of the country of how proud we are of our history, freedoms and achievements.’ This seemingly innocuous movement, known as Operation Raise the Colours, quickly spread across the country like a rampaging wildfire.
In London, the borough of Tower Hamlets removed the St George’s flag from lampposts, only to be met with outrage by those who claim to be motivated by pride and patriotism. Hanging one’s country’s flag is usually a permissible symbol of national pride. And yet, given the political context of the present movement, it’s hard to deny the deeper, more sinister message on display. Operation Raise the Colours has coincided with a rise in anti-migrant protests, intensified media scrutiny of asylum seekers, and an increasingly polarised national debate on identity and inclusion. Many fear that the flag is being weaponised to make people who don’t appear English (non-white people) feel unwelcome in this country.
Blame it on the migrants …
Leaders and political figures on the right, most notably Nigel Farage, often maintain that illegal immigrants are one of the main causes of the nation’s problems. Given that these are times of social and economic strain, this simplistic narrative has gained considerable traction. It has also been reinforced by the spread of misinformation on social media and strengthened through one-sided echo chambers. As a result, this view is becoming increasingly mainstream as Reform UK, a party known to be notoriously hard on immigration, continues to lead in the polls.
Of course, this isn’t the first time the national flag has been used as a symbol of antagonism. Far-right groups have a history of weaponising national symbols like the St George’s flag and the Union Jack to legitimise their crude politics and make it part of the national conversation. The fascist National Front party are among those who have previously tried to weaponise the Union Jack to champion white supremacy.
For young people like me, the patriotic claims seem suspicious. To bring the country out of its far-right coma, the government must change the narrative surrounding immigration so that national symbols are not used to divide and alienate. Pandering to the likes of Reform UK will only deepen existing divisions among a population that should be proudly united by its culturally eclectic racial mix.
DISCLAIMER: The articles on our website are not endorsed by, or the opinions of Shout Out UK (SOUK), but exclusively the views of the author.
