Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think Operation Raise The Colours would, rightly or wrongly, have been far less controversial if it had mostly involved the Union flag rather than the St George's flag?

28 replies

Jane379 · 07/06/2026 00:02

I think the St George's flag should be reclaimed fully from the racist groups just as the Union flag was back in the 90s (remember, for instance, Geri Halliwell's dress had a peace sign drawn on the back to avoid NF associations) But I don't think that has been achieved at the moment, arguably, and while it would be much better if it could be raised with no more issue than the Welsh dragon or saltire, that isn't the current case.
The Union flag being raised would have been very different imo, and caused far less controversy. The associations of that have positive links to fairly recent history too : the Cool Britannia era, then the Jubilees.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
Original poster
Jane379 · 07/06/2026 00:08

I also think that in a sense, the English reluctance to fly the St George's flag seems bigger than it is due to the amount of flag waving in Scotland, Wales & ROI. Obviously this is partly from the context (especially in Scotland & ROI) where there's been perceived historical need to assert national identity as distinct from English. England hasn't had that need so arguably that' part of the reason why flag waving has often been less of a thing here.

OP posts:
AHalfling · 07/06/2026 00:07

It's the very definite link between Operation Raise the flag and racist, xenophobic bigots that people take issue with.

OP posts: