What do you think of the flags?

[Latesummersunset]

Apologies if this has been done already.

I live in one of the areas where the flags were started. We couldn’t understand what they were for until it popped up in the news. Apparently the councils are going to be taking them down.

I don’t really have much of an opinion either way but my concern is that they’ll soon become tatty, fall down and leave a mess everywhere. But it seems lots of people are loving them. They do look quite cheery at the moment.

What do people think?

Yabu - they are a mess/racist/health and safety hazard

Yanbu - they are cheerful and patriotic. Keep them

He didn't agree the terms though.

For his own gain and look how that's gone

Bullshit. It comes out od the foreign aid we already pay. Go learn.

Exactly. Taxpayers money. So if the costs of the boats go up, taxpayers pay more. How much more tax are you prepared to pay each month before you say enough is enough?

Can you give a workable solution to the 'small boat' issue? What do you think the government should be doing?

I grew up in leafy Hampshire, then went to university in the West Midlands.

What I considered patriotic and just having a good time at home (Displaying the flag during sporting tournaments, wearing around shoulders during games, proudly stating I am English! Not British...) very quickly dressed me up as someone potentially racist at University. Including another student seeking me out to assault me during late night hall of residence fire drills.

Anyone should be able to be proud of who they are. While I now appreciate the historic context more now, this is not something I, or anyone of the modern generations had any direct part of. For good or bad (And there is both in our collective history.)

Our actions now make us, why not display the flag and have that reflect what is good about this country. Our British, and by direct link, English values of inclusiveness and diversity. The flag is for us all, of all people working, contributing and living in our nation.

I refuse it being a symbol of hate.

Upside down is a sign of distress...the Country is in distress. So knock on the doors with the upside down flag and find their reasoning.

Bingo 👍

Do they still teach the union flag at Brownies today? I learned which way up in 1962 in my group

"The bigger picture" always depends on which side of the fence your throwing shade from.

The only real truth is that the more these flags are pulled down and painted over the more truth you give to those that you are so against by proving that you "can't fly the flag".

And lets also be honest in that other flags that have been considered offensive have been left up for longer and in some cases haven't been taken down due to the violent response that the councils believe that they will get (just FYI not St George's cross)

Less deterants. More deportation. Not rocket science.

Unless I’ve misunderstood the meaning of deterrents, I’m not sure less of them would help.

It's not true that the councils don't believe they'll get a bad response if they take down the English flags. That's why some aren't doing it despite it being on council property.

The bigger picture depends on whether you look at each event on a case by case basis or look at them all together given the rise of the far right and those vying to get into power.

I said workable and you mean more deterrents.

Completely agree.

More deterrents I mean 😂. Quite easy. Don't roll out the red carpet. Only day trip would be a 1 way boat trip back to France.

Workable. That means actual solutions, not slogans.

Provide tents rather than hotels or even better, send them back to their country.

You're just parroting Farage. It's quite sad really.

It's true though. Our current PM is an absolute embarrassment.

Why tents? If you don't like the hotels you'd like a tent city in your local park even less. Such a daft thing to say.

Not in my area though. Some derelict land or former army base. Somewhere which will make them think twice and then urgent deportation or overseas processing.

Why tents? Do you prefer your asylum seekers damp?

They will not come, and if they do we’ll make them cold and rained on.

Lovely.

What, like “smash the gangs”, “country first, party second” and “all our plans are fully costed”?

👍