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Too many Union Jacks say Labour MP’s !

(403 Posts)
vickymeldrew Sat 30-Mar-24 09:34:59

Interesting article in the Guardian this morning.
Labour MPs and activists say their campaign literature has too much emphasis on our national flag. Many ethnic minorities equate the flag with the far right, so it should not be shown as prominently .
Comments please.

nanna8 Sun 31-Mar-24 02:20:00

Spinnaker

I have these shoes, bought with true patriotism in mind for the late Queen's Jubilee in 2012. To me they symbolise this wonderful great country that we live in.

I love them . They’re gorgeous!

Rosie51 Sat 30-Mar-24 23:14:23

vegansrock

I’m not a lover of flags of any description and can’t see the point of them - a bit of cloth with a pattern on - but according to some on here that means I should go and live somewhere else.

I wonder do you equally disapprove of the pro Palestine marchers carrying the Palestine flag? Or the abundance of Ukrainian flags that surfaced shortly after the Russian invasion?
What about Pride flags etc? Do you object to those being flown everywhere?

I have a relative who has recently taken citizenship of their country of residence. Having voluntarily moved there that relative respects their adopted country, its flag and customs, and has sworn allegiance to it. That's how it should be.

Nobody has to love or see the point of a flag, but to immigrate to a country then say you find their flag or other factors offensive does seem rather odd. Having said that I've not met any immigrant in my very diverse London borough who has expressed such an opinion!

petra Sat 30-Mar-24 22:52:01

vegansrock

I’m not a lover of flags of any description and can’t see the point of them - a bit of cloth with a pattern on - but according to some on here that means I should go and live somewhere else.

You’re obviously not a lover of history: a country’s flag is of paramount importance.

Callistemon21 Sat 30-Mar-24 22:05:49

vegansrock

I’m not a lover of flags of any description and can’t see the point of them - a bit of cloth with a pattern on - but according to some on here that means I should go and live somewhere else.

That somewhere else will doubtless have its own flag!

Somewhere I have the Ladybird Book of World Flags, probably slightly out of date now.

vegansrock Sat 30-Mar-24 22:02:22

I’m not a lover of flags of any description and can’t see the point of them - a bit of cloth with a pattern on - but according to some on here that means I should go and live somewhere else.

Oreo Sat 30-Mar-24 21:20:44

I don’t mind a bit of draping around with our flag, it is our own flag after all.
Starmer wants to reassure the public, after the near miss of Comrade Corbyn being in charge, that the country will be safe in the hands of Labour now.

Galaxy Sat 30-Mar-24 19:34:39

I was obviously too upset to post😀.
Starmer isnt Johnson. Although they both have an ambition to win, but for different reasons.

Galaxy Sat 30-Mar-24 19:32:35

But ha

MaizieD Sat 30-Mar-24 19:27:29

Well, I'm sorry, but political use of the union flag reminds me too much of Johnson draping everywhere with union flags to 'celebrate' leaving the EU. Which was not the UK's proudest moment and was very upsetting for a great many people.

Spinnaker Sat 30-Mar-24 18:57:23

I have these shoes, bought with true patriotism in mind for the late Queen's Jubilee in 2012. To me they symbolise this wonderful great country that we live in.

Iam64 Sat 30-Mar-24 18:54:07

I’m not a right winger - at all I don’t think but - I’ve no problem with love of country. One of the things I love about Greece is the way people love their crazy country. Maybe that’s the thing, their’s pride and irony

Freya5 Sat 30-Mar-24 18:53:11

flappergirl

vegansrock

What is the point of a flag anyway- all this faux patriotism and we are better than you malarkey. Why do political parties need to plaster it on their literature anyway? It’s not like they are electioneering in another country

Exactly.

Like it or not, the Union Flag (it is not the Union Jack by the way) has been hijacked by far right groups. It is disingenuous to deny it. I live on a very white, Brexiteer, Nigel Farage loving council estate (they'd be Trump voters in the USA) where the flag is displayed in windows or on flag poles. Trust me, this has nothing to do with patriotism. It is making a very specific statement.

To return to vegansrock's point. We all know the various political parties are campaigning in Britain. Why do we need the Union Flag on their literature to remind us?

Well of course you do. A nasty comment, seemingly taken from from the mouth of such as Thornberry. Do you think the French aren't patriotic, yes they are, and are fighting against the same nasty bigots as we are.

Glorianny Sat 30-Mar-24 18:50:19

JaneJudge

there must be no more fun with flags

Ooh Sheldon Cooper Fun. with Flags

Freya5 Sat 30-Mar-24 18:50:03

zakouma66

I don't care about flags, I don't care about nationalism or tribalism. I'm not proud to be British. I wanted to be European.

Oh dear me.

JaneJudge Sat 30-Mar-24 18:46:45

that gentleman is committed grin

Callistemon21 Sat 30-Mar-24 18:45:55

JaneJudge

there must be no more fun with flags

What about wearing them?

JaneJudge Sat 30-Mar-24 18:30:24

there must be no more fun with flags

ordinarygirl Sat 30-Mar-24 18:22:06

the main problem with the union flag is that it is not displayed correctly - many are upside down! I have no problem with the flag being correctly displayed but nowadays there are county flags as well.
That is when there are too many flags

JaneJudge Sat 30-Mar-24 18:18:51

are there any people on gransnet who are in a minority ethnic group that could tell us how they feel?

eazybee Sat 30-Mar-24 18:17:31

I think Labour are using the Union Jack to demonstrate to the traditional red wall working class voters who are known for their patriotism......

How patronising.

Cossy Sat 30-Mar-24 18:13:30

Witzend

I thought it was the England (St George) flag that is (sadly IMO) associated with the far right.

Me too, sadly!

TerriBull Sat 30-Mar-24 18:11:04

I think Labour are using the Union Jack to demonstrate to the traditional red wall working class voters who are known for their patriotism to make the point of "we're with you on that" because at times that has been less than evident, but they've kind of over egged it now. I don't think anyone should assume, just because at one time right wing groups appropriated the national flag that non indigenous ethnic groups object to it, we shouldn't speak for them they aren't a homogeneous mass that all think the same. In fact, I'd say many different races etc were very evident in the crowds on occasions like our late Queen's Jubilee and also on the streets as part of the many people who mourned her death at the funeral processions.

Galaxy Sat 30-Mar-24 18:02:22

Culture is really important. For example I am not a fan of the royal family. If the labour party took a Republican stance at this time I would weep. The flag is important to many, its important to acknowledge that.

Galaxy Sat 30-Mar-24 17:55:24

No they are trying (I hope) to back away from the divisive identity politics. And to win an election so that vulnerable people stand a chance.

MaizieD Sat 30-Mar-24 17:47:22

I think most of you are completely missing the point. Labour are using the Union flag as part of a political culture war. It's divisive.

We are not a nation of flag fliers and in the past, as people have noted, it's been used in situations where the UK is more or less united and not for political purposes. It's desperately sad that it's being reduced to a tool in a political culture war.