I spend August at the seaside in Italy—where I am currently—and it’s refreshing to see plenty of ‘Il Tricolore’ flags proudly on display, as they should be.
That’s why I’m genuinely delighted to hear about the preponderance of Union Flags and St George’s Flags going up across the UK. Symbols of national identity, when embraced in a healthy and thoughtful way, can serve as a reminder of who we are and what we stand for.
Politically, I align with broadly social democratic principles, but I’ve become increasingly concerned by the cultural and moral demoralisation of the West in recent years. When we lose faith in our own heritage, moral foundations, and collective achievements, we don’t become more enlightened—we become more vulnerable: vulnerable to ideological extremism (Islamist extremism remains MI5’s most resource-intensive threat), and to internal fragmentation. In this vacuum, pride and gratitude are often replaced by shame, guilt, and a corrosive self-loathing.
This problem is made worse by the tendency of many British institutions to engage in endless self-flagellation—constantly apologising for colonialism, slavery, and past injustices—without giving proportionate recognition to the immense progress, sacrifices, and enduring values that Western democracies have also delivered: democracy, individual rights, the rule of law, and scientific innovation among them. This imbalance is not only self-defeating—it’s historically dishonest.
Add to that the rise of identity politics, which increasingly elevates group identity (race, gender, sexuality) above individual merit and shared civic values. The result is division, resentment, and the erosion of reasoned debate in favour of emotional outrage and ideological orthodoxy.
We also have to talk honestly about immigration. Uncontrolled immigration across Europe has contributed to real cultural tensions—not because of race or religion per se, but because of a widespread failure to assert and defend core societal values, and to expect integration from newcomers. Too often, any attempt to raise these issues is met with silence, denial, or accusations of racism and xenophobia. But ignoring the problem doesn’t make it go away—it just deepens the disconnect between public concern and elite discourse.
So yes, perhaps something as simple as putting up our national flags can serve as a cultural prompt—a reminder to reaffirm our Western values: freedom, rational inquiry, individual rights, and the rule of law. It can also be a moment to re-engage with our history honestly: acknowledging its faults without erasing its achievements. And perhaps most importantly, to foster the intellectual courage needed to resist ideological conformity and reclaim the self-confidence that a free and open society requires.