Over summer there was lots of noise about our national flags. You may have seen stories about them being put up on street signs without permission, forcing councils to remove them. What should have been a simple issue of following the rules has turned into a row about patriotism, culture and identity.
I am proud of our flags. When we see the Union Jack flying at an international event, or when the St. George’s Cross is waved in the stands at an England match, it stirs something. These flags represent who we are as a nation. They are part of our shared story, and they belong to every single one of us.
Sadly, there are some who want to use our flags to divide us. We’ve seen extremists try to hijack them, using them as a symbol of anger and exclusion rather than pride and unity. Andrew Currien, a former English Defence League thug who was jailed for his part in a racist death, has been revealed as one of the main organisers behind “Operation Raise the Colours”. That’s not patriotism – that’s provocation. Real patriotism is about recognising the things that bring us together: our resilience in tough times, our hardworking communities, and the diversity that makes Britain such a special place to live.
Here in West Cumbria, I see that spirit every single day. I hear it in the voices of children on my school visits every Friday, who speak with such pride in their communities. I see it in the crowds of thousands who turn out to support our football and rugby teams – even in the famous Cumbrian weather! I see it when our veterans’ groups march proudly on Remembrance Sunday and our community turns out to honour them.
Think of what our flags have flown over in recent times: the incredible effort of our NHS staff during the pandemic; the service and sacrifice of our armed forces; the sporting triumphs that have lifted the nation. Our flags don’t stand for one group, or one narrow view of what it means to be British. They stand for all of us.
That’s why I believe we shouldn’t be afraid of showing pride in them. Flying a flag isn’t about politics – it’s about celebrating the best of our country and the values we share: democracy, decency, solidarity and the rule of law.
So let’s not allow our flags to be misused as a wedge between communities. Let’s take them back for what they truly are: a reminder of our shared pride, our shared story, and our shared future. I proudly display the flag in my offices in Whitehaven and Westminster and support residents who want to fly the flag on their property. The Union Jack and the St. George’s Cross don’t belong to extremists or to any one political party. They belong to you, to me, and to every person who calls this country home.
Josh MacAlister MP 