Angry about England flags? You’re doing the far-right’s work
St George's Cross flags have been hung in parts of England in increasing numbers, and roundabouts and street crossings vandalised with red paint, in acts some are calling patriotism – but is it just a front for racism?
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In brief…
- Streets in England have been vandalised with red paint, under encouragement from hard-right politicians and activists, amid growing tensions over the number of migrants and asylum seekers in the UK.
- The News Agents say that while some people are motivated by patriotism, many of the incidents of vandalism are motivated by a desire to “intimidate” and “send a message” to other people.
- They suggest the left try to embrace the England flag themselves, in order to take away the ‘subversive’ appeal of flying flags en masse.
What’s the story?
A man was arrested after painting red crosses on homes in Essex, after a video of the perpetrator, shirtless on top of a shop, was shared on social media.
The arrest wasn't for what he painted on the wall, it was for what he yelled at a woman in a head scarf who passed by with a child. His racist comment has been described as "disgraceful" by a senior Essex police officer.
In recent weeks, the St George's Flag has been seen in increasing numbers across the UK, with people attaching them to lampposts, and committing acts of vandalism on roundabouts and street crossings with red paint to make a political point.
The people out and about with the paint and the flags insist it’s patriotism, but others just see racism.
The St George's Cross, while nothing more than an English flag, has been weaponised by far right, and racist, ideology in the UK, seen commonly at Tommy Robinson and Britain First marches, and during anti-migrant protests this summer outside hotels where asylum seekers are housed.
What can be done to stop what should be a harmless national symbol from being used as a far-right dogwhistle?
Why are people really flying the flag?
During events like the World Cup the England flag becomes a symbol of national pride.
And while Lewis Goodall describes himself as “great believer” in reclaiming both the English, and British flag, he says it’s very apparent why some people, and activism groups, are suddenly obsessed with hanging it from lampposts.
“They're doing it to try and get a reaction and, in some cases, they're doing it to try to intimidate,” Lewis says.
“They want to send a message of cultural aggression. I can understand why some people might find it difficult or intimidating.”
What’s the solution?
Some local councils in the UK have suggested they will remove any England flags flown inside their borders, but Jon Sopel says they need to be very careful not to give more ammunition to the right-wing groups who have benefited from stirring up racism behind the current flag movement.
Jon believes people in England should fly the flag, if they’re proud of being English, he says that’s “marvellous”.
“We're proud to have the flag of St George,” Jon says.
“I think if anyone on the left starts getting their knickers in a twist about it, they're making a huge mistake and doing the far right's work.”
Lewis says the only way to end the right-wing’s obsession with draping entire towns in the English flag is to simply let them get on with it.
More powerful still, he adds, would be if the left-wing began praising the St George’s Cross and everything it means to them.
Lewis says it should be described as the flag of tolerance, liberalism, democracy and Shakespeare – and then see how long the right-wing thugs stay interested.
“Those people will stop putting it up, because it will have lost all elements of being subversive,” he says.
“That's the only way to deal with it, because if you don't, you allow these malign forces to own that flag.”
“Half the job of progressive politics these days is not allowing that door to even become ajar and just shutting it firmly in the face of these people.”