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.

The flags serve as a distraction. It works, look how we are talking about the flags and whether it's jingoism or patriotism when we should be talking about the shocking levels of Tory cronyism and misappropriation ( theft) of public funds.

It does look odd, because we’re not used to it, but if it stops the flags from being used for a particular political leaning then I’m all for it. I couldnt look at the SalTire without thinking SNP for a while, and if Scotland are flying the EU flags, bought post Brexit for half a million pounds, then I would want the union flag up with them.

Wales is the 5th largest exporter of electricity in the worldand if we were independent we would (at last) profit from all the water exported to England.

@Notonthestairs

Shouldn't flags be more of an outdoors pursuit? Flapping around a bit?

Nobody should have to hide Jilly Cooper.

Couldn't agree more; flags just standing behind ministers is odd to say the least especially the sudden and recent universal use . I respect politicians more if I think they are capable of some original thoughts and ideas of their own.

@Ymlaen

Wales is the 5th largest exporter of electricity in the worldand if we were independent we would (at last) profit from all the water exported to England.

Rubbish.

The UK as a whole isn't even in the Top 15.

www.worldstopexports.com/electricity-exports-country/

Why make stuff up?

Maybe it's the 5th largest at hydro electric
Can't believe Germany are so high - is it coal produced?

I'm not making anything up. Wales is a net exporter of the electricity it generates.

England imports electricity from Wales, Scotland and from continental Europe.

This means that Wales exports electricity generated in the country to consumers elsewhere in the UK.

That is because Wales generally has more generation capacity than it requires while England generally has less.

So, overall, the UK isn't in the top 10 of exporters.

But Wales, on its own, would be fifth worldwide. Also,Wales is well on the way to reaching its target of 70% of electricity consumption from renewable sources.

I see absolutely nothing wrong with flags being visible when MPs are speaking. I would like to see the flag more prominently on display in schools and all public buildings. Nothing enforced about it. When I go to most European countries flags are much more visible than they are in the UK. Denmark and Holland I recall as being particularly good examples. Going back into the 80s I think there was a degree of flag hijacking by the extreme right. It is about time we reclaimed it for all of our citizens, and I speak as a person of colour.

@Brainwave89

I see absolutely nothing wrong with flags being visible when MPs are speaking. I would like to see the flag more prominently on display in schools and all public buildings. Nothing enforced about it. When I go to most European countries flags are much more visible than they are in the UK. Denmark and Holland I recall as being particularly good examples. Going back into the 80s I think there was a degree of flag hijacking by the extreme right. It is about time we reclaimed it for all of our citizens, and I speak as a person of colour.

Excellent post ^

Also, despite me, and a number of others - asking yesterday, 'why is it OK for every other country to fly their flag, but not the UK (and England especially?') NO-ONE has given a single reason why the UK flag and England flag should NOT be flown.

That's because there ISN'T a reason. Not a single reason why we shouldn't fly our flag. Call me a flag shagger, I seriously couldn't give a fuck about what some random nobody on the internet thinks of me.

Also, @broadstrokes

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.

ODFOD.

Like hell am I going to apologise for the sins of my forefathers fucking CENTURIES ago. I have never done ANYTHING bad to ANYONE that I need to 'atone for.' Change the record FFS.

What's more, if you think the English are the only ones who acted badly in the past, you're more deluded and obtuse than I could even imagine. It's only the English who get shit for it though, like it's only the English who get shit for flying their OWN FLAG. No fucker else does. The anti English sentiment on here sometimes is a disgrace.

Denmark and Holland I recall as being particularly good examples

Yes. In the Netherlands the picture of the King and Queen are absolutely everywhere, and no one is throwing tantrums or going on about 'hypnosis' FFS!

In the Netherlands the picture of the King and Queen are absolutely everywhere, and no one is throwing tantrums or going on about 'hypnosis' FFS!

Sheesh. That's one thing I would NOT want to see happen: far rather see the prominence of the flag! (I've also noticed the same thing in Sweden).

I see the comments against. I can see all manner of reasons why with the latest stand-off against the EU this might be a subtle way of giving them the finger.

There's also the argument that if this becomes a more accepted, prominent and 'normalised' thing, it could stop the hijacking of it as a divisive, nefarious symbol.

I'm on the fence.

@littlepattilou

Well said! I totally agree. 👏🏻

The anti English sentiment on here sometimes is a disgrace

^This. It's impossible to understand what goes on in some people's heads, really

Christ you should try being Scottish. Apparently England is the uk.

Also, @broadstrokes

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.

ODFOD. wink

Like hell am I going to apologise for the sins of my forefathers fucking CENTURIES ago. I have never done ANYTHING bad to ANYONE that I need to 'atone for.' Change the record FFS.

What's more, if you think the English are the only ones who acted badly in the past, you're more deluded and obtuse than I could even imagine. It's only the English who get shit for it though, like it's only the English who get shit for flying their OWN FLAG. No fucker else does. The anti English sentiment on here sometimes is a disgrace

I won't fuck off if you don't mind littlepattilou. I am as entitled to my view as you are to yours. And where in my post did I say it was just the English who had perpetrated wrongs? I stand by my comment and there's absolutely no need to be rude. Your hyperbolic language diminishes the content of your post.

It is important that we , and all other European countries, are aware of colonalism and it's effects because they have direct ramifications today. A good current example is why so many members of the UK black community not trust governmental advice relating to the Covid-19 vaccine right now? In some cases it's because they have been aware of the experience of their great-grandparents and grandparents (Windrush generation) and how they had been deceived.

Whenever I see the Union Jack it reminds me that my country was conquered.

There some awful things going on in the world today -wars etc etc - fortunately not in the U.K., but hey who cares about that when we can weep and wail about the past.

fortunately not in the U.K.

This. Yet people are adamant to foster division and wallow in endless negativity

I'm not wallowing in negativity, I'm looking forward to an independent Wales.

let them fly the flags! the real issues are elsewhere.

It's a none too subtle attempt by the Tories to show Labour up as unpatriotic and therefore untrustworthy. By the comments below the line in the Guardian, it seems to have Labour rattled.

Yep. Robert Jenrick has just been on the news trying to defend why people are paying rent to stay in homes covered in damp and mould. Its an utter disgrace.
But he had a union jack behind him so hey ho!!

Sad - those people should STFU and put up with it. We cant have people like Jenrick paying good money to keep up acceptable standards of living for the plebs. Wanker

Totally. But what does he care.