The council should be taking down England flags in public places?

[fourfoxsakes]

I have driven through a couple of areas in the last few days where England flags are being displayed on public lamp posts, it makes me feel very uncomfortable and unwelcome in the area and I think gosh I’m glad I don’t live here, but why are the council not taking them down?

Private citizens are tying flags to public property en masse in Scandinavia? I didn’t know that.

If you’re going to reclaim the flag, I’d say you need to be pretty clear that’s what you’re doing. I’d quite happily get behind a reclaiming campaign that is careful to distinguish itself from the whole Raise the Colours nonsense. Problem is if you can’t distinguish between them.

Yanbu. They look cheap and nasty.

I've reported the ones in our town to the council who said that a contracted out company called Enervo deal with lampposts. It'll be weeks before they're dealt with. They make our shit town look even worse.

I don't assume that at all. There will be plenty of people innocently flying flags for the women's rugby etc, as they do for various other reasons.

But of course I assume that the flags which have popped up in communities recently as a direct response to the calls of the racist Tommy Robinson and his cronies have been put up by racists. Because it is abundantly obvious that they have.

Yikes when did MN suddenly become so rightwing?

It's tacky as hell OP and that's without the horribly racist undertone. I expect a lot of these arseholes were football hooligans back in the day, or are the kids of them They just have to have some supposedly patriotic 'cause' as an excuse to kick off. Most of them don't have 2 brain cells to rub together and probably barely worked a day in their life.

Flags are hung all over the place, it’s normal.

You can distinguish the difference by not reacting and having a massive melt down when you see one.

I’ve seen far more hysteria about the presence of flags, than I’ve seen flags.

Flags appeared in the town I live in and nobody asked me about them. Seems the flag flyers get to tell other people how to live.

No, it’s not normal. I’ve lived in three other countries beside the UK - including the US - have visited many more, and in none of them did I see flags tied to every lamp post and phone mast. There seems to be a weird concerted attempt to portray this as the norm for other countries when it isn’t.

Your second paragraph makes no sense at all. I’m talking about the intent behind flying the flag, you’re talking about the reaction to it. Not to mention, I haven’t had a ‘massive melt down’ at any point. You’re resorting to mockery and straw men.

Why would you want to take down this country's flag?
People of other nations aren't ashamed of their flag, so saying that you are, and you won't allow other people to be proud is an extreme position.

You said ‘anywhere and everywhere’ - and yes, the national flag is widely displayed and flown in many countries.

I find your being extremely offended and demanding they be pulled down as offensive, far more difficult to rationalise than people wanting to fly them to express that they are nationalistic and love England.

Im not offended if I see a Palestinian flag, I’m not offended if I see a Ukrainian flag, I’m not offended if I see an English flag - all at their root are flown to show solidarity with national identity, as an mentioned previously - they are being flown in England.

It's as much their job as taking down any other form of fly-posting. In other words they should do it, but don't expect it to be quick.

The Police have been taking them down in my area, as if they haven’t got more important things to do 🤨

I don't have any objection to the Union Jack, George Cross being flows, interestingly in Scotland and Wales there isn't the same outrage to the national flags. However, I do understand the point that they are not authorised to be hoisted on lamp posts etc and appreciate that this is a fair point - however, if these flags are to be taken down and the rule is no unauthorised flags then that should go for all flags, Palestine, Ukraine, Pride etc etc. There needs to be a consistent approach. I have no objection and actually think it would be good thing if the national flags were authorised to fly more freely but that is a separate matter.

Ok let's remove the england flags and whilst we're at let's remove any other countries flag as well. Its a flag for goodness sake it isnt hurting you. It doesnt symbolise racism it symbolises England and guess where we live... England. Get over yourself.

You know why.
There are also lots of people who want them up.

I wouldn't mind a few flags which are properly erected at the top of flagpoles. Not cable-tied halfway up lamp posts. Contrast the difference:

The Welsh have put up the England flag in support. They were placed across Conwy bridge in tandem with the Welsh flag. Ditto on the dual carriageway into town. We like flags

Not one of the Swedish flags I saw in Stockholm was cable-tied halfway up a lamp post. In my view the councils should reclaim the St George's Cross, and fly it alongside county flags on municipal buildings, maybe around parks too. The people tying them to lamp posts however are not the sort of people who will reclaim the flag from the racists.

Most councils are because of what these flags represent - racism, and many non white people will find them offensive and threatening. Council therefore have a duty to remove them but maybe don’t have the resources to remove them all immediately. If you find any particularly offensive tell the Council and they will probably prioritise them

Anywhere and everywhere is not synonymous with widely displayed. For the last time: I am not offended by the flag, I have no issue with it being displayed - I have no issue with it bring widely displayed.

I have an issue with groups unilaterally forcing this on others when they have no right to do so and then insisting it is ridiculous for the rest of us to feel so much as mildly disconcerted despite it coming amidst a whole barrage of anti-immigrant, rightwing messaging.

I also take with a pinch of salt how unifying and patriotic this all is when the first reaction to any criticism from their fellow citizens is to belittle them.

Our local council got the Mickey taken after saying that it was dangerous for vehicles a distraction in one area, would cost £250k to provide police security for council staff and remove to prevent accidents. It was pointed out to them that the speed limit was 20 mph,

I think its totally disingenuous to not distinguish between buildings or private properties that have always hung up a flag, (our town had a church called st georges, they always had a flag) hanging up flags temporarily to celebrate sports events or eg VE day commemorations.... and the last few weeks where all of a sudden people feel such pride they hang flags from every lamppost and bridge for miles
It's stupid to pretend theyre all put up with the same sentiment.

If its a symbol of patriotism and pride why weren't they already flying flags on their own property why have they only just started to be proud to be English/British....? And why are people putting them up at night time wearing hoodies and balaclavas if its such a symbol of pride and unity?

But in answer to the question, I imagine councils dont have the budget or man power to take them down on a regular basis.

Seeing England flags isn’t having something ‘forced on you’ though is it.

Unless someone’s forcing you to fly one from your own home, which I assume they are not.

I don’t think there’s ’a right to fly flags from signposts’ but nor do I think you have a ‘right from having your see the England flag in public places’.

Other countries are allowed to have a flag and put it up. Why can't we? If you ban the English flag you would have to ban the other flags of the UK and I don't fancy your chances!

Most people in this country aren't political zealots and just have simple pride in their nationality and where they live and they just want to show that. I feel sorry for you that your politics has become so warped that you cant be pleased to see the flag of your own country (if England is your own country).

Seeing people pretend it's an innocent display of patriotism and not a coordinated campaign of white supremacy is really fucking tiresome. YANBU.

Because flying a flag is not illegal.