Neighbour has put up huge Unite the Kingdom flag

[UrticaDioca]

I am gutted. I haven't seen a single flag in my town, and suddenly this union jack goes up two doors over with the words 'Unite the Kingdom' printed on it in capital letters. The flag is huge and flying from a pole on top of their shed, but it's in their own garden so nothing can be done.

I am the daughter of an immigrant mother and therefore mixed race. Now I have to see this fucking flag waving at me every time I look out of my kitchen or living room windows.

In Oldbury we have had a Sikh woman born here raped and beaten by two white racists telling her to go back to her own country.

Omg, that is horrific, @Agrumpyknitter . The poor woman. Wtf is this country turning into?

That is not evidence 😂It's an opinion poll on buyer behaviour.

As someone who worked in the property industry I'd like to see figures on the sold house prices in said areas from 2 years ago, 1 year ago and what has sold in the last 6 months. This would need to be monitored of the next year. I'd like the differences in purchase price (increase or decrease) to be compared to similar properties in the area that are without flags. Other things that affect house prices would also have to be taken into consideration such as HMOs and migrant hotels. Do you see what an impossible task this is with many variables and factors to take into account.

So simply saying flags reduce house prices is bollocks and untrue.

I'm also British and I've taught my DC to be proud of our flags and to listen to others opinions.

Exactly

So you distinguish between the plain old Union Flag and a TR one do you?

It couldn't be more clear... literally.

Good for you. Hopefully your dc will listen to those who make the case that racism is wrong in all its forms.

So, whilst people are getting their knickers in a twist over some flags, with their often-fake outrage, Labour are busy seriously fucking up the UK economy, with consequences for all of us.

Some people have got some seriously messed up priorities.

The irregular arrivals via boat is definitely being used by groups like the EDL as well as, sadly, by more mainstream politicians to elevate community concern. Attaching flags to public property (Raise the Colours) was directly funded by EDL and Tommy Robinson affiliates. Yes, others have seen it and thought that's a good protest.

Meanwhile, in our "uncontrolled" migration system, less than 5% of arrivals last year were irregular (43k out of 888k), and we are now speeding up deportations of failed applicants and reducing the backlog.

you don’t think the previous govt had anything to do with it?

Clearly, want to fly a flag on your property? It's a bit odd in the UK, but knock yourself out. Want to display support for TR? Well, that says something else.

Surely you can’t be that naive? The flags have been used by far right racists . There’s nothing wrong with the flag itself but that connection to the far right and the connotations that brings.
The flag itself isn’t the problem, it’s whoever is waving it and for what reason. The OP is asking for opinions about what it could mean and how she should feel. That’s a valid question in this climate .

We are all entitled to different opinions though ....

Some of us don't agree with that point of view, though.

Aye, cause its not a problem if 20% of potential buyers are put off.

Im beginning to see why your properties haven't sold, despite being on the market for such a long time.🙈

Yes, of course we are. Nobody is saying otherwise.

But being entitled to different opinions means that we are free to hold the opinion that racism is despicable.

Yes, well said...

One of our neighbours has erected a 15ft flagpole in “his” garden with a Union Jack on it.

I say “his” because it’s hardly contained to his garden, it’s imposed on everyone.

I just don’t know what would cause someone to erect such a giant thing in their not large back garden. I don’t know what point he is making.

Sorry you’re having to put up with a flag like this. Not good what ever the intentions are behind it’s erection.

My neighbour opposite has flown a St George’s one for a couple of years. I don’t think he flies it for racist or little Englander reasons although he did have Brexit stickers on his last car. We haven’t discussed it.

I suspect there are nearly as many reasons for flying flags as there are flags.

The whole spectrum from out and out racists to those who think they look nice fluttering.

How they are viewed is up to the individual, their position and thoughts.

Many will see them as a bad thing, a threat, provocative, insulted, undervaluing, stress causing etc.

Others, like my Mum for example, would say they look nice fluttering in the wind and wouldn’t see and hidden message. They might even question why others are upset.

Even though I’m a male, white pensioner I can see why some feel insulted and insecure, upset.

Many have been put up for bad reasons.

I’m sorry about the behaviour of fellow(?) countrymen

OK, so tell us why a direct response to a campaign led by one of Britain's most notorious racists shouldn't be seen as aligning yourself with racists?

But it's not "just a flag", is it? It's a flag emblazoned with a slogan used by a far-right, racist organisation. And it's a bit sus that it's only appeared recently, when said organisation has recently had 100-150,00 marching through London, spouting their vile shite.

If he was like my friend's dad, who had a Union flag in his front garden for years, then it might be "just a flag", but in the current climate, I don't think it's overreaching to think it's expressing racism.

It's possible to love living in a country without all this pride nonsense

Thankyou, great post.

Urgh @Petitchat !Maybe you should be teaching your children to not weaponise symbols to oppress and intimidate others.

They've probably done it deliberately as they have you as a neighbour.

I'm so sorry. I'd try and move, which is what they want, but I couldn't look at that.