Reform are spending £75,000 putting up Union flags in Nottingham

Menopauselbitch

dragonfly46

Surely there are better ways to spend council money.

Yes they could paint rainbows on crossings, or even more 10 metre cycle lanes

Or they could fill a few potholes.

dragonfly46

Surely there are better ways to spend council money.

Yes they could paint rainbows on crossings, or even more 10 metre cycle lanes

It's council money and it is a waste.

That won't happen Allira, as it is being done with respect.

Draping of coffins at the "funerals of ex-servicemen" will never be seen as "symbols of hate" Allira - surely that will always be in recognition of a life given in service?

I think it would be extremely weird to think anything else!

Judging by this thread, I’m sorry to say not everybody is able to do that Allira. Nobody has said that they don’t think the Union Jack or the England flag should be used as they have historically been, for special occasions, but that is what people are being accused of by others, who want to see the flags flown as a ‘symbol of national pride’ much more than they ever have been.

I hope people can differentiate, growstuff.

Allira

Dorisdodar

I find it upsetting and disrespectful of posters to say our flag is a symbol of hate... especially at this time of year when we are remembering our fallen in the WWs. My GGD died on the battle field in France and is buried in a lonely grave...his wife was part of the Suffragette movement so she also played her part in history. My Grandad took his own life because of the horrors of WW2. I fly my flags on their behalf with pride..they fought for it. If things had turned out different in the wars who knows who's flag would be flying in the UK.

I have been to funerals of ex-servicemen and the Union flag is often draped on the coffin.

It's sad if this will now be seen as a symbol of hate and not as a symbol of the battle for freedom.

A flag is a piece of cloth (or other material). It's what it symbolises that matters. On a coffin or at international sports events it represents something very different from being flown by people who, themselves, state it represents nationalistic/jingoistic pride.

Dorisdodar

I find it upsetting and disrespectful of posters to say our flag is a symbol of hate... especially at this time of year when we are remembering our fallen in the WWs. My GGD died on the battle field in France and is buried in a lonely grave...his wife was part of the Suffragette movement so she also played her part in history. My Grandad took his own life because of the horrors of WW2. I fly my flags on their behalf with pride..they fought for it. If things had turned out different in the wars who knows who's flag would be flying in the UK.

I have been to funerals of ex-servicemen and the Union flag is often draped on the coffin.

It's sad if this will now be seen as a symbol of hate and not as a symbol of the battle for freedom.

This is a list of where the flags will be placed, one each side of the road.
share.google/CNYG8MpgfZGfUftcl

I’m married to a proud Welshman. They fly their flag with pride and nobody would ever suggest that it shouldn’t be flown in any situation. And it’s the same in Scotland

There are very many people in Scotland who feel the Saltire has been hijacked and now represents a political party rather than the nation. Some see this as a positive, others a negative. It means though that the Saltire no longer represents the nation as a whole which is a great shame. As to what many Scots call the Union Flag (as already stated on GN) it's certainly very divisive.

I've no problem with flag flying but find it perverse that the reason for Nottingham Council instigating this is supposedly due to the disrepair of the flag brackets, staffs, etc. Surely the disrepair of more essential services should be a priority. In my area that would be welfare, pavements, roads, libraries etc (not necessarily in that order).

Here is a list Nottingham Council have apparently released of where the Union flags will be sited. One each side of the road apparently.

I guess we will find out how divisive they are, or not, if they remail flying or are removed/defaced.

Lahlah65

I have always regretted the fact that we’ve allowed the national flag of England (and to a lesser extent of the UK) to be hijacked and by the right. The only time it seems safe to fly it with pride is in association with football.

I’m married to a proud Welshman. They fly their flag with pride and nobody would ever suggest that it shouldn’t be flown in any situation. And it’s the same in Scotland.

Of course I know how divisive flags can be - not just in the UK of course. But I’d like to be able to reclaim the classic flag of St George so that it can be flown with pride in England. It’s part of what makes people feel that they are losing ‘British culture’. I always say to people that this cannot be taken away from them, but that they can lose it through neglect. If they are generally concerned, they need to think about what British or English culture means to them and make sure that they celebrate it and pass it on through their own families.

There is a little part of me that wonders whether, if the flag is flown more generally as an expression of pride and in a tradition of openness, it will be a small step towards recovering these symbols. There was a long period in the latter part of the last century during the ‘cool Britannia’ phase when the union flag became really iconic as a piece of design.

I make mosaics - here is a picture I made using the English flag to celebrate all corners of England and the fantastic stuff they make (and a union flag too). People genuinely enjoy seeing it when I take it to exhibitions and I have never had a negative comment.

What you’ve produced is fabulous! I absolutely support our flag, however, not as it’s currently being used, particularly the George Cross.

It’s awful of a growing minority to use our flag in this way and very divisive.

Dorisdodar

I find it upsetting and disrespectful of posters to say our flag is a symbol of hate... especially at this time of year when we are remembering our fallen in the WWs. My GGD died on the battle field in France and is buried in a lonely grave...his wife was part of the Suffragette movement so she also played her part in history. My Grandad took his own life because of the horrors of WW2. I fly my flags on their behalf with pride..they fought for it. If things had turned out different in the wars who knows who's flag would be flying in the UK.

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Millie22

The flag shown is the England flag on the council building in Market Square. It is the largest England flag in the UK apparently and is only there for St George's Day and sporting fixtures.

I've no idea where Reform intend to put their flags.

I know exactly where I’d like to put Reform’s flags!

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202510/medium-47vm7w-img-5820.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202510/medium-8u99y2-img-2412.jpeg

I have always regretted the fact that we’ve allowed the national flag of England (and to a lesser extent of the UK) to be hijacked and by the right. The only time it seems safe to fly it with pride is in association with football.

I’m married to a proud Welshman. They fly their flag with pride and nobody would ever suggest that it shouldn’t be flown in any situation. And it’s the same in Scotland.

Of course I know how divisive flags can be - not just in the UK of course. But I’d like to be able to reclaim the classic flag of St George so that it can be flown with pride in England. It’s part of what makes people feel that they are losing ‘British culture’. I always say to people that this cannot be taken away from them, but that they can lose it through neglect. If they are generally concerned, they need to think about what British or English culture means to them and make sure that they celebrate it and pass it on through their own families.

There is a little part of me that wonders whether, if the flag is flown more generally as an expression of pride and in a tradition of openness, it will be a small step towards recovering these symbols. There was a long period in the latter part of the last century during the ‘cool Britannia’ phase when the union flag became really iconic as a piece of design.

I make mosaics - here is a picture I made using the English flag to celebrate all corners of England and the fantastic stuff they make (and a union flag too). People genuinely enjoy seeing it when I take it to exhibitions and I have never had a negative comment.

I find it upsetting and disrespectful of posters to say our flag is a symbol of hate... especially at this time of year when we are remembering our fallen in the WWs. My GGD died on the battle field in France and is buried in a lonely grave...his wife was part of the Suffragette movement so she also played her part in history. My Grandad took his own life because of the horrors of WW2. I fly my flags on their behalf with pride..they fought for it. If things had turned out different in the wars who knows who's flag would be flying in the UK.

I admit I'm probably in a minority but when we lived in America I didn't like all the flag flying there. We don't all like them in other countries (just an aside).

I don't see anything positive about flag flying but not so bad usually on a public building. I'm happy with them during an international competition or special anniversary. I think they seem positive or celebratory then.
To have any impact though they do need to be taken down after it I think.

We all have personal feelings about flags and the semiotics of them. Personally as this is a dodgy subject on terms of messaging I think the status quo should pertain.

And spending £££ on them by a council is, at least, pretty wasteful.

Astitchintime what is A flag frame please and where did you find the info?
Thanks

growstuff Who the hell do you think you are??

I am appalled that our National flag is being used as a symbol of hate.What sad times we live in! The NHS would collapse without our foreign workers. People are people! We all share the same humanity. Can't we learn to care for each other rather than judge people simply because their skin colour is different or they were born outside of the UK?

There is no need to be rude and condescending just because you hold a different view.

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

They are playing to a particular audience and I think it's unethical and ridiculous, not least because it is a waste of money that needs to be spent elsewhere.

Casdon Nor did I mention you.

What makes the flying of our flags hateful or divisive?
The answer is simple.
Intent!!!!