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Original poster

Thread 29 Starmer - Paint your Bandwagon

1000 replies

DuncinToffee · 21/08/2025 12:21

And do a little rain dance

previous thread
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5385382-thread-28-starmer-weodmonath?page=40&reply=146569893

OP posts:
Thread gallery
89
SerendipityJane · 22/08/2025 13:34

PickAChew · 22/08/2025 13:10

I spotted my first flags at half mast, today, around a roundabout close to a hostel complex - for homeless people.

I've started remarking that a properly raised flag is a symbol of pride, and these half arsed jobbies are a national embarrassment and the easy way to distinguish patriots from cunts.

Piggywaspushed · 22/08/2025 13:46

Not seen a single flag round here apart from on one on a proper flag pole in a front garden.

MN likes to believe people like me live in some middle class leafy suburb but I really don't. I think I live in a fairly typical, pretty apathetic white van man type of area where aspiration is shown in having a good car and holidays and DIY projects. Solidly Tory voting until Dorries jumped the shark. Labour MP in the town. In fact, my town was often said to be the most reflective of English population demographics in terms of % of different ethnic groups. The Labour MP is a Muslim. I hardly ever see these comments you all do on local Facebook pages (apart from the odd outbursts about travellers...) . I'm also on Tommy's patch. Ironically (or perhaps obviously) he is less welcome here than in many places!

Definitely if someone painted a roundabout FB would light up with indignation about who was going to pay to put it right.

PandoraSocks · 22/08/2025 14:08

DuncinToffee · 22/08/2025 13:19

What a shock.

I am praying for rain on Sept 13.

cardibach · 22/08/2025 14:15

Sadly my long teaching experience would suggest it’ll be hot and sunny on that date. Rain for the first day or two of term, so that all the deep cleaned floors and carpets can be ingrained with mud again, then sunny for weeks to make you pissed off to be there. It’s a law of nature.

BIossomtoes · 22/08/2025 14:15

I’m glad I’ll be out of the country.

Saucery · 22/08/2025 14:29

For all the FB bluster I haven’t seen any more flags than usual in the two small towns I live between. They are leftover ones in upstairs windows from sport matches. Maybe they are waiting with their too short ladders until Monday, when it is meant to be warm again. I’ll have to check when I get back from holiday.
We do have a wraparound mural on the British Legion. An 8ft head of Vera Lynn, most alarming! Reminds me of the John Finnemore sketch where he describes the unlicensed cartoons on ice cream vans as “almost, but not quite, like Goofy/Mickey”. I hate the new trend for covering everything in fucking murals anyway. What’s wrong with a nice whitewashed render for goodness sake.

PandoraSocks · 22/08/2025 14:36

BIossomtoes · 22/08/2025 14:15

I’m glad I’ll be out of the country.

Where are you off to?

SerendipityJane · 22/08/2025 14:37

Saucery · 22/08/2025 14:29

For all the FB bluster I haven’t seen any more flags than usual in the two small towns I live between. They are leftover ones in upstairs windows from sport matches. Maybe they are waiting with their too short ladders until Monday, when it is meant to be warm again. I’ll have to check when I get back from holiday.
We do have a wraparound mural on the British Legion. An 8ft head of Vera Lynn, most alarming! Reminds me of the John Finnemore sketch where he describes the unlicensed cartoons on ice cream vans as “almost, but not quite, like Goofy/Mickey”. I hate the new trend for covering everything in fucking murals anyway. What’s wrong with a nice whitewashed render for goodness sake.

I think the buzz is already dying down. Even on my local FB it's clear that it's teh usual suspects who are trying to big it up and like each others posts.

I hesitate to say a flash in the pan, but I will be surprised if every single flag put up these past few weeks will be flying in August 2026. People simply haven't got the stamina or attention span. I know people bemoan the UKs productivity gap. But it does have some odd benefits. We really aren't a nation capable of sustaining long shifts in character. If we were. we wouldn't be run the way we are - maintaining a millennia of privilege.

MyNameIsX · 22/08/2025 14:45

Speaking of emulsion, one has to admire his initiative...

A vigilante has painted the St George’s Cross onto potholes in the hope it will spur the council to fix them.
Ben Thornbury, frustrated with the time taken to fix potholes in his hometown of Malmesbury, Wiltshire, noticed how quickly councils up and down the country appeared to be deploying workers to take down patriotic flags and remove crosses of St George painted on roundabouts.
The 20-year-old decided to test the council’s response by painting a St George’s Cross on a pothole.
He said: “I noticed all the England flags going up in Birmingham. I started to think I’ve cracked the code for getting potholes sorted.”

SerendipityJane · 22/08/2025 14:52

MyNameIsX · 22/08/2025 14:45

Speaking of emulsion, one has to admire his initiative...

A vigilante has painted the St George’s Cross onto potholes in the hope it will spur the council to fix them.
Ben Thornbury, frustrated with the time taken to fix potholes in his hometown of Malmesbury, Wiltshire, noticed how quickly councils up and down the country appeared to be deploying workers to take down patriotic flags and remove crosses of St George painted on roundabouts.
The 20-year-old decided to test the council’s response by painting a St George’s Cross on a pothole.
He said: “I noticed all the England flags going up in Birmingham. I started to think I’ve cracked the code for getting potholes sorted.”

Buy that man a beer.

In truth, the councils (Birmingham certainly) should have done fuck all for a few weeks. Let the racists have their day in the sun, and then quietly remove them as we go into autumn (if, as I noted on another thread, the weather doesn't do it for them).

By treating it like an outbreak of smallpox all they have done is feed the troll (I mean you'd think someone there had some smarts) and shown that while they haven't any money to keep a day centre open, they always have plenty to spunk on woke virtue signalling. Because res ipsos loquitor - they have.

SerendipityJane · 22/08/2025 15:06

MyNameIsX · 22/08/2025 14:45

Speaking of emulsion, one has to admire his initiative...

A vigilante has painted the St George’s Cross onto potholes in the hope it will spur the council to fix them.
Ben Thornbury, frustrated with the time taken to fix potholes in his hometown of Malmesbury, Wiltshire, noticed how quickly councils up and down the country appeared to be deploying workers to take down patriotic flags and remove crosses of St George painted on roundabouts.
The 20-year-old decided to test the council’s response by painting a St George’s Cross on a pothole.
He said: “I noticed all the England flags going up in Birmingham. I started to think I’ve cracked the code for getting potholes sorted.”

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15024489/Vigilante-paints-potholes-St-Georges-Cross-council.html

I was going to post this in a comment on one of the tiresome local FB posts about flags. But following my own prophecy, the noise has died down 😀

Man paints potholes with St George's Cross to force council to act

Ben Thornbury, 20, is known for his unconventional methods of drawing attention to potholes, and has come up with the new tactic in his home town of Malmesbury, Wiltshire.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15024489/Vigilante-paints-potholes-St-Georges-Cross-council.html

PandoraSocks · 22/08/2025 16:07

SerendipityJane · 22/08/2025 15:06

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15024489/Vigilante-paints-potholes-St-Georges-Cross-council.html

I was going to post this in a comment on one of the tiresome local FB posts about flags. But following my own prophecy, the noise has died down 😀

Show quote history

He has got a great sense of humour. The 🎣 pot hole is excellent.

Original poster
DuncinToffee · 22/08/2025 16:10

That pothole looks it's in an alleyway rather than a main road

He should try painting the Union Jack for a bigger challenge

(didn't read article so might have missed other photos)

OP posts:
BIossomtoes · 22/08/2025 16:13

Saucery · 22/08/2025 14:29

For all the FB bluster I haven’t seen any more flags than usual in the two small towns I live between. They are leftover ones in upstairs windows from sport matches. Maybe they are waiting with their too short ladders until Monday, when it is meant to be warm again. I’ll have to check when I get back from holiday.
We do have a wraparound mural on the British Legion. An 8ft head of Vera Lynn, most alarming! Reminds me of the John Finnemore sketch where he describes the unlicensed cartoons on ice cream vans as “almost, but not quite, like Goofy/Mickey”. I hate the new trend for covering everything in fucking murals anyway. What’s wrong with a nice whitewashed render for goodness sake.

I hate the new trend for covering everything in fucking murals anyway. What’s wrong with a nice whitewashed render for goodness sake.

You sound like Jenrick! 😂

The usual @PandoraSocks, Malta.

SerendipityJane · 22/08/2025 16:18

I hate the new trend for covering everything in fucking murals anyway. What’s wrong with a nice whitewashed render for goodness

New trend ? Maybe ancient Egypt, Greece or Rome wouldn't have been for you then.

And medieval churches were ablaze with colour until the puritans whitewashed them. Clearly to the anger of a God somewhere, since they unwittingly managed to preserve these bygone expressions of devotion and education.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/mar/21/religion.heritage

Simon Jenkins: The dazzling walls of medieval England deserve a bold restorer

Simon Jenkins: These enigmatic church murals were once the national gallery. Art conservation must bring them back to brilliant life

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/mar/21/religion.heritage

Saucery · 22/08/2025 16:37

Oh @BIossomtoes I think that’s the nastiest thing anyone has ever said to me on here! Shock Shock
I don’t mean good wall murals, I mean 8ft high almost-Vera Lynns. God, you lot are tight <flounces>

Piggywaspushed · 22/08/2025 16:48

Ouch , ' like Jenrick'. Cruel.

SerendipityJane · 22/08/2025 16:54

Piggywaspushed · 22/08/2025 16:48

Ouch , ' like Jenrick'. Cruel.

Even I'd stay my hand before posting that 👼

Piggywaspushed · 22/08/2025 16:56

I'm not sure...it might even be against Talk Guidelines?

Saucery · 22/08/2025 16:59

I won’t be Reporting, it’s enough for me that @BIossomtoes is officially more waspish than @SerendipityJane 😇

BIossomtoes · 22/08/2025 17:04

Saucery · 22/08/2025 16:37

Oh @BIossomtoes I think that’s the nastiest thing anyone has ever said to me on here! Shock Shock
I don’t mean good wall murals, I mean 8ft high almost-Vera Lynns. God, you lot are tight <flounces>

Sorry, will you forgive me, please? 🙏

SerendipityJane · 22/08/2025 17:06

Saucery · 22/08/2025 16:59

I won’t be Reporting, it’s enough for me that @BIossomtoes is officially more waspish than @SerendipityJane 😇

Sulks

pointythings · 22/08/2025 17:19

Honestly, I get travel sick on the train for a couple of hours so I can't look at screens and you lot are squabbling like a Reform council realising they actually have to do some work.

There, that makes me wasp in chief.

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