Too many Union Jacks say Labour MP’s !

I think the union jack will have been hijacked only if people give in, and no longer fly it or wave it, for fear of being branded as something they have no allegiance with.

I very rarely comment but when I saw the article in the guardian my heart sank.

I am British and that is the flag my Grandfathers, Father and son serve under.

When I lived in the US the realtor gave us a large Stars and Stripes and said welcome to our country.

Labour have been handed an easy win for the forthcoming elections why are they attempting to throw away such an opportunity.

I agree MissAdventure. Don't give in and let the undesirables "own" our country's flag.

I wonder if those not liking the Union flag being waved or flown have the same dislike of protest marches sporting abundant flag waving?

Rachel Reeves is pictured in front of the Welsh dragon on the campaign literature that came through the door.

Last time I looked, she was a Labour politician, not Welsh Labour.
(I know I'm being picky.)

Just when I’ve been debating about giving Labour a chance in the up coming election they go put the kibosh on it 🤷‍♀️

What is the strategy behind the proposed use of the Union flag on forthcoming Labour Party literature? Is it supposed to attract habitual Tory voters who would normally dump a Labour leaflet in the nearest recycling bin? If one of these leaflets arrives through my letter box, my inclination will be to assume it's from the Tory candidate and recycle it immediately. What does the Union flag 'say' to any one of us? I have a feeling that the Labour strategists have got it wrong on either wing of the political divide.

paddyann54

Its not just ethnic minorities that hate the butchers apron ,it has connotations of subjugation,pillage ,rape and murder across the globe starting on the British isles and spreading like a pandemic.Many here have no wish to be associated with it .
AND before anyone says Scotland was involved in those things,try remembering when we lost our Independence our population was @1 million...if half of that was women and children then whats left many were forced into joining the Navy and armed force of the time.As witnessed recently in Westminster SCOTLAND DOESN'T HAVE A SAY ,Starmer and his dirty dealings with the speaker saw that over the Gaza issue
.I refuse to take the blame for a huge majority in and out of Westminster.When we gain our Independence we'll happily take the blame and consequences for all and any mistakes we make.Until then take your butchers apron and all the horrors it contains and take the blame that goes with it

Yes, I am going to say it

So many of those you call rapists and pillagers were Scottish.
The vast number of Scottish place names around the globe is astonishing; from people's names to names evoking a longing for their Scottish homeland.

Which Labour MP’s ?

A lot of fuss about nothing. It’s our flag, those of us who live in Britain anyway. Every country in the world has a national flag and so do we. I really don’t understand why anyone from far right through to far left, and every hue on the way, needs to feel threatened by a flag. It’s normal to have a national flag. What are we supposed to do? Be the only country in the world that doesn’t have a flag, because it might offend or upset someone? There are a lot more things in the world to get upset about.

For those who are offended by paddyann’s posts, do what I do and don’t read them.

MissAdventure

I think the union jack will have been hijacked only if people give in, and no longer fly it or wave it, for fear of being branded as something they have no allegiance with.

Agreed!

whats left many were forced into joining the Navy and armed force of the time.
Rubbish.

There are some Scots who are proud of their regiments, to sail in RN ships built on the Clyde and those who were proud to have defended these Isles in WW2.

For those who are offended by paddyann’s posts, do what I do and don’t read them.

They do need to be challenged because they are, in the main, prejudiced and untrue.

My father wasn’t a Scot, but he was in the Black Watch and he loved it and was very proud of it. I still have the feathers from his cap and he very proudly wore his blazer with Black Watch badge on when he was alive.

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.

Geographically you are.

Way before the EU Europe was part of the address I used to write in all my new books.
🙂

Britain is part of Europe. Why don’t some people understand that? Geography obviously not their strong subject.

MaizieD

I didn't mind seeing the Union flag plastered all over everything during the 'Backing Britain' campaign in the 1960s because it had a purpose that touched the UK and most people were behind it.

I loathe seeing the flag used as it is today, a contested symbol in a culture war; it's childish 'Ner, ner, ni, ner ner, I'm more patriotic than you', 😱 and undignified. I wish that both parties would just grow up..

I have a lot of sympathy with what PaddyAnn says about the Union flag being a symbol of repression and slavery in some eyes. But then, I also have a lot of time for the Scottish wish for independence and I have no problem with passionate posts on the topic.

Agree with MaisieD

Volver aka paddyanne can think what she/ he/it likes. Their issue. Several members of my family fought and died under the British flag, they were proud of it. I find it incredibly offensive hearing comments against it and, were I in a position to vote, I would totally reject any party trying to associate it with the far right or far left or any such. I am also proud of my adopted flag, it represents who we are.

Every country has its National flag, and quite right too. It’s rubbish to say the Union flag is for the far right - if this is true. It’s time we stopped pandering to this nonsense (again, if it’s true) - do other countries wring their hands over their national flag? I very much doubt it. Neither should we.

Callistemon21

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.

Geographically you are.

Way before the EU Europe was part of the address I used to write in all my new books.
🙂

I did question in what way zakouma isn't European now but s/he has ignored my posts on page 1.

If being a member of the EU is the criteria there are a lot of countries that don't qualify including poor beleaguered Ukraine.

maddyone

Britain is part of Europe. Why don’t some people understand that? Geography obviously not their strong subject.

It's since they let children have a choice of Humanities for GCSE

vickymeldrew

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.

Labour MPs and activists say their campaign literature has too much emphasis on our national flag

I do have sympathy with thst view.

The Union Flag is not the Labour Party's to claim as theirs.

What is their symbol? They chose the red rose which was equally unsuitable.

They need to find a new symbol which is instantly recognisable as that of an inclusive Labour party.

For many years if I’ve seen a Union Jack in someone’s garden my immediate reaction has been ‘BNP supporter’. And I’m usually right. So it doesn’t surprise me if ethnic minorities think the same. I do feel we need to reclaim the flag in a nicer way but not sure how that can be done.

I don't think the LP is claiming that the union flag is 'theirs', Callistemon. They're just playing a silly competitive, I'm more patriotic that you are' game.

MayBee70

For many years if I’ve seen a Union Jack in someone’s garden my immediate reaction has been ‘BNP supporter’. And I’m usually right. So it doesn’t surprise me if ethnic minorities think the same. I do feel we need to reclaim the flag in a nicer way but not sure how that can be done.

I thought the England flag, cross of St George, had those connotations.
Hopefully we can move away from all thst and rediscover some pride in our country, just as other countries around the world do.

We used to do road trips in the USA and Canada, many homes and business premises had their national flag flying in the garden and it was always lovely to see. Our last trip was 10 years ago, perhaps things have changed in North America too.