Thread 22 Starmer - Running up to local elections

[BIossomtoes]

Here we go. Previous thread.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5305431-thread-21-starmer-casting-nasturtiums?page=40&reply=143731831

I like seeing the Union Jack and St. George's flags flying. I am patriotic though.

I am not keen on the Union Jack, but I like my country's flag.

I can't say I pay attention to what flags are flying

Edit - Looks like I got it wrong - personally I see it as a backtrack when they realised there were county flags - but apologies anyhow.
I've read they're banishing the Lancashire Rose flag as well though - as a Yorkshire lady I could say it's cos we are finally recognised to be best! Actually, I don't understand it - it's patriotic surely, to your county, which Reform supposedly want for the U.K. - I also think it's stupid and wrong - hopefully it will annoy some Reform voters, though it is a shame for those who like to see their Rose and didn't vote Reform.

I'm not. I'm with Samuel Johnson on patriotism. It's fine on the sports field. Everywhere else it's performative at best and divisive at worst.

I like to see our national flags too - but don’t see why they can’t also be alongside other flags.

On the one hand, this seems like a trivial issue. But on the (bigly) other, this is clearly an example of Reflux’s (thanks @Rummly ) jingoism.

Banning the Lancashire Rose will not go down well. It was bad enough when Labour ‘redesigned’ it for the LCC logo. Conservatives changed it back as soon as they got back in. It’s not got any jingoism attached to it and is used for so many events - agricultural shows, Lancashire Day etc.

What have Reform got against the Lancashire flag?

Darling Keir is forever draping himself in the Union flag 🤣

Why the tone? I think ‘draping’ is an exaggeration, but actually I think the proliferation of flags in public life is questionable.

Whereas, of course, darling Boris never did that at all, did he?

BBC reporting that Reform have now backtracked on banning the Lancashire Rose standard from flying on their buildings
Even quicker than I thought!

He started it. It’s now one of Keir’s strategies. I don’t have a problem with it. I may be wrong but I don’t think the French have this problem.

Nothing wrong with Keir Starmer (and TLP) owning the Union Jack. Taking back ownership from the right wingers. He’s proud to be patriotic. Reported as far back as 2021:

Early in his tenure as new Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer said he wanted the party to be "proud of being patriotic".
In his first speech to the party's conference as their leader last September, Sir Keir said to voters: "I ask you: take another look at Labour. We're under new leadership. We love this country as you do."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-53902845

Oh, I can’t see pictures of him ‘draping’ himself in the flag, so not really quite sure why you’ve chosen to use that expression @derxa?

What are Reflux going to do about the Black Country flag ?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_the_Black_Country

Deport it, of course 🤣

Ooh, a challenge for the leadership of the Greens.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/may/05/green-deputy-zack-polanski-launches-leadership-bid-with-uk-eco-populism-vision

Idiot. Denyer is excellent, to the point whereby I’m seriously considering a Green vote if Labour don’t sort themselves out by the next GE.

I like her too . He's a bit of a sexist so perhaps he thinks he'll attract a male vote.

Its weird to reduce patriotism to flying a flag - or banning other flags.
I also find it peculiarly insecure to think any specific flag is diminished by flying alongside other flags.

Hmm, I’m no fan of Denyer, but replaced by a man who said he could use hypnotherapy to enlarge a woman’s breasts…….nope. Or his version - that he could use hypnotherapy to change her perception of her own breast size, rather than raise body self esteem as a whole…….still nope.

Surely the more flags you fly, the more open and inclusive you appear? I’m not a fan of the Union flag or the St George flag anyway, their meaning has been too long hijacked by racists. Perhaps strangely, I do like to see the Welsh flag or the Northumberland flag.

I find that quite sad really that you feel like that. I feel a strong attachment and love for this country, a sense of belonging. I'm proud to be British/English and I think although we have our problems, in times of adversity we all pull together. I live in a lovely place with a lovely community,

I honestly would not want to live anywhere else other than the UK.

That's why we need to take those flags back from the racists and show that people who fly those flags are not racist, it's just a very tiny minority.

I don't think you can take back what wasn't yours. Obviously I'll be called the oddball here, but I didn't grow up in a UK that needed to fly a fucking flag ever five fucking feet.

We might have had a discreet one secreted somewhere at high school. And I have vague memory of one in the classroom at primary and possibly middle school.

If there was one flying at the civic centre I don't recall. Certainly there wasn't one at the DVLA offices that were nearby.

The local TA brigades had one.

Beyond that, the most I've seen a union flag is when I have been setting up systems and it's shorthand for "GB".

So my growing up was in a land where the patriotism was more powerful for being understated. With a sense of "Gawd help anyone who doubts it".

I have no desire to exchange that for a performative flag-wanking ceremony by people who use it to disguise the fact they despise the history of Britain and those that know it and adhere it it.

I'll be honest. These days, if I see a flag, I do wonder how it would sparkle under (ironically) blacklight.