What's With the Flags

[projuicehealth]

It seems every minister who is interviewed on TV has a Union Jack flag in the background.
AIBU to think there is something a little more sinister to this than a sign of being patriotic? I wonder and worry about subliminal brain washing / hypnosis.
I'm concerned that all ministers are going along with it, are they afraid not to?
Johnson did very well keep repeating the mantra "Get Brexit Done" without much substance of how, why or implications.
I wonder if there is more concern about the break up of the United Kingdom in the government and the flags are a visual symbol of our unity, real or imagined.

[Knowingitsallover]

@TheExtraGuineaPig even in cornwall you will see a few houses with flags flying and across europe lots of flags about
Not really a big deal is it , if I go to germany I kind of expect to see a few german flags

[TheExtraGuineaPig]

I've spent lots of time in Germany, France and all over Spain. I've lived in Singapore and Australia and nowhere are there more "normal" residences flying the flag than there are here. People absolutely do not have flag in their living rooms or studies that would be caught on a zoom.

As someone up thread said, this is a conscious change - and one designed to sow division. I'm exhausted by it. Why isn't politics about good outcomes instead of this shitty, cynical attempt to "trap" those on the other side.

[tangerinelollipop]

People absolutely do not have flag in their living rooms or studies that would be caught on a zoom

Perhaps it's a new trend? People are fed up with UK bashers and want to make a statement? I don't see the problem - or are we going to start policing what people want to have in their own homes?

[Knowingitsallover]

@TheExtraGuineaPig have you visited everyone's homes and we are talking mp's homes here whilst on zoom about uk issues not everyday people
Its not about division its about a country coming together whilst fighting a pandemic , similar to a war in some ways as it requires all of us to help defeat it.
Your looking way too deeply into it and again you may have visited some homes but not all

[Knowingitsallover]

@TheExtraGuineaPig also pretty sure you haven't been privy fo what politicians have in their homes in other countries or what they have now if realising broadcasts from their homes

[Roussette]

or are we going to start policing what people want to have in their own homes?

Course not! You can choose to be a prat all on your own!

[BonnieDundee]

I think it makes them look stupid. Trying to copy Trump or whatever

[littlepattilou]

Nothing wrong with having the Union Jack up. OR the England flag.

As some posters have said, many other countries are proud and happy to fly their flag. Why should the British (especially the English) have to apologise for flying ours?

Anyone who doesn't like it is free to look the other way.

[littlepattilou]

The more the PC woke lefties certain people bash me (or anyone else) for flying MY flag, the more I will fly it.

If YOU don't want to fly it then don't. But fuck off telling me what I can and can't do. And fuck off with your snarky 'daily mail is that way..... > ' type comments that will ultimately come along soon.

[BrumBoo]

@littlepattilou

The more the PC woke lefties certain people bash me (or anyone else) for flying MY flag, the more I will fly it.

If YOU don't want to fly it then don't. But fuck off telling me what I can and can't do. And fuck off with your snarky 'daily mail is that way..... > ' type comments that will ultimately come along soon.

The more flag lovers post shit like this, the less anyone else needs to say really....

[Roussette]

Do you have one behind you on zoom calls though?

And what is trying to insult people as PC woke lefties got to do with it, and then you tell us to fuck off with DM comments lol 😂

And who has told you, you can't?
No one. Do what you want! But you can't police opinions on it!

[MarieIVanArkleStinks]

No matter which way people voted, Brexit was divisive and its ramifications are probably set to remain divisive, especially given the period of austerity that's bound to result from COVID. All the flag-waving possibly is intended as a subliminal response to that. In what way exactly that's intended, who knows? They could be giving the finger to the EU in response to the vaccinations controversy. Or perhaps to Nicola Sturgeon, for restarting the debate about the Scottish referendum.

Re. Cornwall, I've seen the Cornish flag flying far more often than the Union one. Ditto Wales and Scotland.

If they want the Union flag to be a symbol of unity, I'm afraid they're facing an uphill battle with that one.

[broadstrokes]

The serial preachy types who demand constant apologies and self-flagellation have a lot to answer for. Every country has to deal with current (and past issues) and no one dares to be as disrespectful as some individuals are with the UK.

I think a bit of humility and realistic self -awareness in relation to how we act towards others, including an awareness of past wrongs, is a very healthy thing.

[LibertyMole]

I love Britain and am very proud of it.

If Scotland goes, it would be amazing if we could agree on a new flag with the Welsh dragon prominently included on it.

[Captpike]

@BrumBoo

The union flag is a symbol of unity, containing as it does the flags of England (which includes the incorporated principality of Wales)

Wales is a country, please don't be so rude. Bad enough we don't get representation on your 'British' flag.

Why doesn't it surprise me that @Babdoc is also anti-welsh?

[Ymlaen]

@LibertyMole If (or when) Scotland goes, Wales won't be far behind. Support for independence in Wales is 40% according to the latest figure. Scotland's departure would cause a significant increase
in the support of independence in Wales. There wouldn't be enough time to change the flag!

[worriedatthemoment]

@Ymlaen not sure wales has a party pushing for independence and very different to scotland economically as well

[worriedatthemoment]

Apologies there is a party in wales but wether they get in is another matter

[Ymlaen]

There are two parties in Wales who support independece, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party. Plaid probably won't get a majority but Labour might need them as support to form government. Support for Welsh independence within Labour in Wales is growing fast. 51% of Labour voters in Wales support independence. Forcing the Union Jack on us will increase this number. Even unionists like Drakeford have said that they will have to think again about Welsh independence when Scotland leaves.

[Knitterbabe]

Is it feasible for Wales to function as an independent country?

[Ymlaen]

Why not? There are over 100 other independent countries in the world that are smaller than Wales. If you look at the top 10 wealthiest countries (GDP per capita) 9 have a population of less than 5 million, and 7 of those have a smaller population than Wales.

[gottakeeponmovin]

We went skiing to Switzerland two years ago - the flag is everywhere - about half the houses have their own flag pole with the flag flying proud. Why shouldn't people be proud of their country - it doesn't have to have negative connotations

[ssd]

@DdraigGoch

So when Drakeford/Sturgeon/Macron/Merkel/Martin/Biden/Von der Leyern have a flag in the background no one bats an eyelid, it's perfectly normal, yet when British ministers do the same they're apparently "sinister" "flag-shaggers". Double standards?

Sturgeon is British.

[Knitterbabe]

@Ymlaen

Why not? There are over 100 other independent countries in the world that are smaller than Wales. If you look at the top 10 wealthiest countries (GDP per capita) 9 have a population of less than 5 million, and 7 of those have a smaller population than Wales.

It’s not about population size though, is it? Wales isn’t a tax haven, nor does it have hugely valuable natural resources.
This is not a goady question; Wales is a beautiful country and people, in the main, have been welcoming.

[gottakeeponmovin]

@Ymlaen Wales is not Switzerland or Monaco. You are living a pipe dream if you think Wales could be financial independent. There's a question mark over Scotland and they have oil resources. Wales is unlikely to attract any international investment. The banks aren't going to move to Wales. It's just not unfeasible - and I say that as someone who would like Wales to be independent but it's just not possible.