St George’s Cross and the Union Jack, distinguished by their distinct red and white bearings, are becoming increasingly prevalent on streets all over England. While some view this as a sign of national pride, others interpret it as a rising wave of anti-immigration sentiment. The flags started to appear conspicuously during a summer marked by the immigration debate, now regarded as the primary concern among voters, outpacing even the economy in a YouGov poll conducted since the end of June.
While walking past an Isle of Dogs pedestrian crossing in London, adorned much like the English flag, a 32-year-old bartender remarked, ‘Shouldn’t we take pride in our flag and display it freely? Every nation has the same privilege, why should we be an exception?’ In Britain, national flags are typically seen on public buildings but their presence on the streets is an uncommon sight, exclusive of sports, royal, military occasions.
Interestingly, the sudden proliferation of these flags coincided with recent demonstrations outside lodgings providing shelter to asylum seekers. The trend seems to be an initiative from certain groups. These collectives, identifying themselves as ‘proud English men’, encourage the display of these flags as a testament to their pride in the nation’s history, freedom, and accomplishments.
These enthusiasts chose not to disclose additional information regarding their reasons behind the increasing display of these flags, which are becoming a common sight, especially in West Midlands’ cities. However, in the 1970s, the Union flag was claimed as a symbol by the National Front party, a far-right extremist group with clear white supremacist leanings. The Cross of St George, representing the patron saint of England, has also been used as a symbol by soccer hooligans and extremist right-wing factions.
The flags’ previous exploitation by far-right entities frames their current prevalence in a questionable light. National pride might be the agenda for some, but for people from migrant communities or diverse ethnic backgrounds, there looms a concern that they might be the targets of these displays. More than simple patriotism, these flags could bear an undertone of intimidation.
Sharing his point of view, a 52-year-old Isle of Dogs resident working in the hospitality sector voiced his apprehension. Although he believed in the freedom of expressing views on migration within the realm of the law, he still felt discomfort. The Isle of Dogs, located in the Tower Hamlets borough—one of the most multicultural areas in Britain, where nearly half of the population are immigrants—added to his concerns.
This concern springs from the historical tendency for such movements to escalate and metamorphose into something more worrisome. The resident expressed, ‘When nationalism is perceived to start taking on an unwelcome tone, some level of anxiety is inevitable.’ Another local echoed that these flags were a call to reclaim English culture, feeling that foreign cultures had become overly dominant.
Recently, several protests erupted outside hotels accommodating asylum seekers, incidentally triggered by an asylum seeker from a north-London hotel being charged with a crime. These protests drew support from several political figures. While some of the flags were removed by councils on grounds of safety, others continue to be displayed on private property.
Tower Hamlets council clarified that although flags are allowed to be hoisted on private properties, any flag attached to council-owned facilities would be taken down. The council statement read, ‘We are aware that not all individuals mounting the flags are from our borough, and there have been attempts by outsiders to foster division within our community.’ No further details were provided.
The visibility of flags has been politically sanctioned by several figures. On the Isle of Dogs, located in east London close to the Canary Wharf financial district, a significant number of flags were spotted around a hotel used as a haven for asylum seekers. The location was also a popular site for protests.
The purpose of these displays, however, remains a subject of speculation and doubt for many. A 26-year-old Indian woman, residing locally, exemplified the uncertainty. She voiced her concerns, ‘If these flag displays carry a message for immigrant communities, it wouldn’t be a welcoming one.’
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