Too many Union Jacks say Labour MP’s !

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.

So do i

MaizieD

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.

I don't think Rachel Reeves is Welsh either.
Strange.

I thought the campaign leaflet would be by someone from the Welsh Labour Party.

I love seeing the proud ways the Spanish display their national flag - even from apartment balconies. A sense of pride in their community. I think it’s marvellous!

halfpint1

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.

So do i

You ARE both European.
Me too.
😁

Presumably the labour party are quite happy with their strategy in terms of securing votes, I know I am.
Being lectured about racism by someone who was deleted for antisemitism is breathtaking.

I’m English, I’m European and a Labour voter. I’m an ex Guardian reader, Owen Jones and getting rid of women journalists who don’t follow the radical trans agenda did for me. I haven’t read the article but Annie asks the right question - which mp’s
As for houses that fly the union flag - my work experience was many had family history of military service, pride to give to public service (I’m talking foster families)
I love seeing the Greek flag everywhere in that country, ditto Spain. Our colonial past is behind us. We need to teach our history well, acknowledge harm done but, Our flag isn’t a shameful image - reclaim it. Which is what the LP seems to be doing. It’s not jingoistic

Urmstongran

halfpint1

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.

So do i

You ARE both European.
Me too.
😁

It's strange how some seem to think Brits were only ever European for the 47 years we were members of the EU, the blink of an eye in time. By that thinking there were only Europeans from 6 countries in the beginning.

If we're to get so far away from national identities why stop at a continent surely we should be identifying as earthians or worldians ?

Fully agree Iam64.

nanna8

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.

I think Volver has long departed, her posting style was entirely different, yes she'd argue the hind leg of a donkey and in doing so, kind of lived up to the name Volver in how she'd return to the same subject. However, she was altogether more erudite and a lot more balanced in the argument she presented for Scottish Independence, she could be dogged but equally could put a point across without resorting to the bigoted, biased, racist points of view that exemplify all the worst characteristics of nationalism. I also don't think she resorted to anti English rhetoric, she had an English husband so presumably she didn't hate the English, unlike the other poster here who really can't hide that.

As far as the Union Jack is concerned I'm pretty ambivalent, and yes the French tricolre is everywhere, as is the Stars and Stripes . I think it's fair to say that other nations don't go around hiding their national flags and offering up mea culpas for sins of the past, or indeed even the present!

Germanshepherdsmum

So we are now ruled by the sensitivities of ethnic minorities who choose to live in this country but don’t like the national flag?

My sentiments entirely! Not just in relation to the flag, either.

If the ethnic minorities dislike our national flag and everything else that makes us proud to be British then Dover's that way.

Good grief paddyanne I have often wondered why and how you were taught to be so full of hate for the English and by whom. I find it very sad. I believe we are all cousins on this planet. Have you not been to the museum on Carlton Hill and watched the video showing how the Scots brought slaves up the Firth to be sold here. So many heinous wars the world over, our history is no different to many others.

I suggest the ethnic minorities who find our national flag offensive toddle off to a country for whom they have rather less contempt and find something else to whine about.

Marthjolly1

Good grief paddyanne I have often wondered why and how you were taught to be so full of hate for the English and by whom. I find it very sad. I believe we are all cousins on this planet. Have you not been to the museum on Carlton Hill and watched the video showing how the Scots brought slaves up the Firth to be sold here. So many heinous wars the world over, our history is no different to many others.

Quite.
And yet I like to see the Saltire on display. Just alongside the Union Flag please as we are stronger together!

Marthjolly1

Good grief paddyanne I have often wondered why and how you were taught to be so full of hate for the English and by whom. I find it very sad. I believe we are all cousins on this planet. Have you not been to the museum on Carlton Hill and watched the video showing how the Scots brought slaves up the Firth to be sold here. So many heinous wars the world over, our history is no different to many others.

Yes I agree it's a visceral hatred, if such sentiments were directed at any other nationality they would have been censored. As mentioned up thread there are Scottish posters who argue and have argued for independence who are able to put that point of view across without the sort of rancour expressed up thread and in numerous other posts.

I honestly don’t understand why anyone needs to fly a flag - what’s the point? I’m not proud of this country at the moment it’s going down the toilet in more ways than one.

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

Scotland not really too knowledgeable about flags given it's First Minister was televised standing proud in front of the reversed Saltire - until they realised it was the Russian Naval flag!

What an absolute disgrace. Everyone who lives in our country should be proud of our flag. This is yet another attack on our democracy. Red white and blue, the colours of our Union Jack are not 'far right'. We are sleepwalking into sharia law. God help us!!

JudyBloom

What an absolute disgrace. Everyone who lives in our country should be proud of our flag. This is yet another attack on our democracy. Red white and blue, the colours of our Union Jack are not 'far right'. We are sleepwalking into sharia law. God help us!!

I don't think it is anything to do with Sharia law per se. I don't think the far right have helped and most decent people want to disassociate from that but I don't want them to win with this particular issue. I think the more decent folk who display the Union Flag or the flag of their country, the more we turn the tide on its association with the right. Labour should not give into this criticism.

I think it is all about usage. In the 60s we took the nationalistic element out of the Union jack by using it on everything. Then it became a symbol of "Cool Britannia" when in the '80s Geri Halliwell wore the Union flag dress, again in a way that wasn't nationalistic or militarian. Somehow the nationalistic element has slipped back. I don't think it should be on any party's political literature. It's a national not a party political symbol. If people want to fly it that's fine, but some people (and not just those of ethnic origins) would prefer it to stay out of politics.

Of course the flag tea towel dress had national connotations.
It wasn't highlighting, for example Japan was it?
As a nation that is our flag.
That it or any other flag can be used as shorthand to advertise where a commodity is made, does not strip it first and foremost being a sign of and relating to that particular nation.

Has anyone spoken to a minority person who has expressed this fear of the union jack?
I never have.

vegansrock

I honestly don’t understand why anyone needs to fly a flag - what’s the point? I’m not proud of this country at the moment it’s going down the toilet in more ways than one.

Does it have to always be about pride though?
It is just a fact. That is our flag.
Our public buildings should fly no other in my view. Not in support or sympathy.
Anyone else can hoist what ever flag they like on private property.
Clearly flying a flag has important psychological connotations, or the pride movement wouldn't have adopted one.
That is why the UJ or StG come under such deliberate attacks.

There's no need for virtually anything, other than a fire to cook and shelter against the elements.

Galaxy

Presumably the labour party are quite happy with their strategy in terms of securing votes, I know I am.
Being lectured about racism by someone who was deleted for antisemitism is breathtaking.

Very good point.