Latest news with #StGeorge'sCross
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Free speech under Reform didn't last long': Why the party's ban on ‘woke' flags risks backfiring
Flush from their barnstorming performance in last week's council elections, Reform UK have announced that their latest flagship policy will be… flags. On Monday, Zia Yusuf, the party's chairman, announced that in the local authorities under Reform control, only the St George's Cross, the Union Flag and county flags could be flown on public buildings. After a backlash, the party confirmed that county flags would be allowed, too, at official buildings in the the 10 regions it won control of on Thursday: Durham, Kent, Lancashire, Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Doncaster, North Northamptonshire, West Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire. 'No other flags will be permitted to be flown on its flag-poles, balconies, reception desks or council-chamber wall,' Yusuf wrote in a post on X. Yet the response from Telegraph readers suggests that in mixing seemingly authoritarian strictures with healthy patriotism, Reform may be making a mistake. Taking pride in your national flag is one thing – surveys have repeatedly shown that voters have a strong positive impression of the Union Flag and, to a lesser extent, the St George's cross – but banning others is another. The policy would see the Ukrainian flag, which has flown in many official buildings in solidarity since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in early 2022, taken down, along with flags celebrating Pride, the Armed Forces and other interest groups. Opposition MPs from across the political spectrum were swift to criticise the plans. Mike Tapp, the Labour MP for Dover & Deal, wrote that it was 'shameful' and 'sickening' and accused Reform of being 'Putin's Puppets'. The Liberal Democrats accused Reform of 'meaningless virtue-signalling', which must have stung: they know what they are talking about. Mark Francois, the shadow armed forces minister, said that 'flags were important symbols and should be respected as such' and that the policy 'hadn't been thought through.' 'Common sense coming to a Town near you' Ben Page, the chief executive of polling company Ipsos, says that despite the outcry, which has seen some accuse Reform of indulging in the kind of cancel culture it regularly accuses the Left of spearheading, the party's new policy may be sound politics. 'Reform's policy probably doesn't do them any harm,' he says. 'Most people in Britain see flying the Union Jack as a healthy sign of patriotism. The minority who disagree will never vote for Reform anyway.' The reader response to The Telegraph's report on Reform's plans suggests Page might have a point. At the time of writing, it has attracted more than 5,000 online comments. They suggest there is plenty of support for flying the Union Flag and St George's Cross. 'Common sense coming to a Town near you,' wrote Walt Longmire. 'If the national flag of the country you live in offends you, perhaps you are living in the wrong country,' commented Don Murray. 'THANK GOODNESS,' wrote Lynda King. 'I pay taxes and council tax and object to public property being used by militant minorities for political ends.' 'I'm not convinced this has anything to do with banning 'Woke' flags per se, it's more a statement that Reform represent British values and won't let minority groups and causes infiltrate public bodies,' argued James Gregory. 'Supporting woke ideals is fine for individuals. Nothing wrong with freedom of expression, opinion and speech. Expecting public bodies and institutions to fly flags is just not on.' Eilvin Reece commented: 'I fully support Ukraine. But there is no need to fly its flag from our national buildings.' 'Why do councils think voters and ratepayers want them to spend their money on fatuous stunts e.g. flying the Ukraine flag?' wondered Gareth Davies. 'Fix the roads, collect the bins and plant some trees. Otherwise shut up.' Others, such as Gary Jeffrey, took a more moderate view. 'Not sure an outright ban is needed,' he wrote, 'but a decree that any flag flown must be accompanied by a more prominent British national flag would be welcome and promote the message that we are an inclusive nation.' Labour voters more likely to unfavourably view the St George's Cross If polling is to be believed, the past decade or so has been a curious time for flag sentiment. The image of the Union Flag was boosted by the London Olympics, when Jessica Ennis and Mo Farah, clad in Stella McCartney flag kits and gold medals, made getting behind the flag less Promsy and more contemporary. While the Welsh dragon and Scottish saltire were embraced, the St George's Cross was increasingly associated with football hooliganism and the far-Right. According to Ipsos polling, in 2013, 53 per cent of Britons saw flying the St George's Cross 'on a normal day of the year' – i.e. not during a major football tournament – as a 'healthy expression of English national pride'. By 2022 that figure had risen to 56 per cent. But the number seeing it as a 'worrying expression of English nationalism' had also risen from 11 per cent to 17 per cent in the same period. A similar survey by YouGov last April suggested that more than a quarter (27 per cent) of British adults had an unfavourable opinion of flying the St George's Cross, compared to 22 per cent for the Union flag. Among those who voted for Labour in 2019, 44 per cent had an unfavourable view of the St George's Cross, meanwhile. Perhaps mindful of this, Sir Keir Starmer has made an effort to portray Labour as a patriotic party. In April, he became the first Prime Minister to host a St George's Day reception at Downing Street. His party is still haunted by memories of Emily Thornberry's brush with the flag-lovers. In November 2014, Thornberry resigned from Ed Miliband's shadow cabinet after posting a picture of a white van outside a house in Rochester decorated with St George's Cross flags. The image was widely interpreted as snobbery from the MP for Islington South and Finsbury. Last year, a number of Labour MPs complained anonymously about the widespread use of the Union flag on their campaign leaflets. They claimed it might alienate voters from ethnic minorities. 'What a silly start' Reform's flag ban is part of a raft of recent policy announcements from the party focused on cutting back government waste, modelled on the work Elon Musk has done in Donald Trump's department of government efficiency (DOGE). Farage has suggested that council workers in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) roles should start looking for other jobs and said he will set up miniature versions of DOGE for councils. For some readers, having a wide range of flags on official buildings could be divisive in itself, rather than boost inclusivity. 'The varied selection … promotes the differences between people, it creates divisions and leads to sectarian tensions,' wrote David Joy. 'The Union Flag and St George's are flags that bring British people together in Britain and as such should be flown on public buildings.' There was some support for banning specialist flags even from within those communities. 'As a gay man, the only flag flown over councils should be the Union Jack,' wrote Josh Rose. 'We need to stop with divisive pandering and appeasement of communities and instead say that all communities must unite behind a single flag. Unity over division.' Of the Armed Forces flag, Ronald Ayliffe, wrote: 'If sacrificing the AF flag leads to a clean up of the current [confusion around flags], then I am sure most serving soldiers, sailors and airmen would accept that. I am embarrassed to admit that I served for six years and I have no idea what the armed forces flag looks like.' But not everyone was persuaded that flags ought to be Reform's most urgent priority. And some readers suggested Farage, Yusuf and the rest of the party may be making a mistake in banning alternatives. 'Glad that Deform has got its priorities right,' said Albert Taflock sarcastically. 'I suspect we can expect more of this nonsense, instead of actually trying to run a council and improve the lives of their constituents.' Another commentator was equally withering, writing that 'everyone I know has been saying we need the flags sorted out as quickly as possible.' Tim Green said: 'Free speech under Reform didn't last long! What a silly start. Public buildings should fly the Union flag, but there is room for more than one flag pole and banning public support for Ukraine will only serve as a reminder of Farage's warmth to [Vladimir] Putin. The self-conscious imitation of Trump underlines the observation that Reform is just the UK wing of Maga. That's not working out so well for the US economy, constitution or civil society.' 'What will Reform ban next?' wrote Robin Jackons. 'Opposition parties perhaps?' 'A bit Putin-esque' The flag proposal comes as a new report has found that artists have become 'terrified' of voicing political opinions for fear of censure by the Left. The report, by Freedom in the Arts, found that 81 per cent of people working in the industry felt the sharing of controversial opinions on topics risked ostracism – compared with only 35 per cent five years ago. Particularly febrile subjects include Israel and trans rights. In banning individual councils from showing solidarity even with the Armed Forces or Ukraine, some argue that Reform, similarly, are falling into the Left's trap of being intolerant about points of view they disagree with. 'I think this is totally over the top,' wrote Hadley Smith. 'You should be able to fly whatever flag you please. It's clamping down on people's freedoms. It's like saying you can only wear x uniform or only support x party. Getting a bit Putin-esque here.' Jack Hughes argued that 'flags are very emotive things' and councils should be 'allowed to fly flags of their choice,' with 'the exception of flags of our enemies and flags that for some reason show sexual preference.' He added that he worried 'banning the Ukrainian flag will just feed into Labour's false narrative of Farage being soft on Putin.' This may be the main lesson from the charged response to Reform's flag proposals. Farage, Yusuf and other Reform figures pride themselves on returning Britain to 'common sense' government. But common sense is rarely prescriptive, and always subjective. When it comes to flag policy, the answers are blowing in the wind. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Time of India
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Rishi Sunak wishes St George's Day: All you need to know the day's significance
Rishi Sunak is proudly celebrating St George's Day . The former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and a Member of Parliament of the UK took to social media to share his wish on St George's Day . Sunak, who was born in Southampton to parents of Indian descent who immigrated to Britain from East Africa in the 1960s, wrote on X (formerly Twitter), 'Proud to be English! Happy St George's Day!' What is St George's Day? by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Invest $200 in Amazon without buying stocks to earn a second salary Marketsall Sign Up Undo Saint George 's Day is the feast day of Saint George, celebrated by Christian churches, countries, regions, and cities of which he is the patron saint, including England, Albania, Bulgaria, Ethiopia, Greece, Georgia, Portugal, Romania, Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, Castile and León, Catalonia, Alcoi, Aragon, Genoa, and Rio de Janeiro. Saint George's Day is celebrated on 23 April, the traditionally accepted date of the saint's death in the Diocletianic Persecution. What is the St George's Cross? The St George's Cross is a red cross on a white background, and it's a Christian symbol strongly associated with Saint George, a military saint. It's most famously known as the flag of England. The cross has been used as a symbol on flags and banners since the Middle Ages, particularly during the Crusades. Symbolism: The red St George's Cross on a white background is a visual representation of the Christian faith and is often associated with the blood of martyrs. It is the national flag of England and is used to symbolize England's identity, history, and values. Patron saint: Saint George is considered the patron saint of England , and the cross became a symbol of the country, particularly after the English Reformation. Significance of the St George's Cross: Historical significance: The St George's Cross has historical roots, with its use dating back to the 13th century. It represents Saint George, England, Genoa, Sardinia, and Georgia, as well as Christianity and the Crusades. In England, it became a prominent symbol associated with the English monarchy and military, particularly after the 13th century. English symbol: The cross was adopted by England in 1190 for ships entering the Mediterranean to gain protection from the Genoese fleet. It became a symbol of the English monarchy and military, with records indicating its use by soldiers in the 1270s. Military distinction: In the 13th century, it was used as a distinguishing mark on uniforms, particularly during the reign of King Edward I. Royal symbol: Accounts from 1277 mention the use of cloth for the king's tailor to manufacture "the arms of Saint George" for soldiers, indicating its importance as a royal symbol. Modern significance: In modern times, the St George's Cross continues to be a powerful symbol of English pride , patriotism, and national identity, especially during sporting events and in discussions related to Britain's place in the world. The flag is heavily displayed during sporting events in which England competes, including cricket, rugby, and football matches. Significance of St George's Day: Celebrated annually on April 23rd, St George's Day is a national day in England commemorating the patron saint of the country. It is a day to honor the legend of Saint George, particularly the story of him slaying a dragon, and to celebrate English identity. The day is marked with various traditions, including parades, religious services, and celebrations, featuring the iconic St George's Cross flag. It is a national holiday in England, and the traditions include parading with St George's cross flag, wearing a red rose, and enjoying traditional English food . Many towns and cities host parades featuring St. George's cross flags, traditional costumes, and music. Some areas organize festivals with food stalls, live music, and other festive activities. St George's Day is often marked by parades and festivals that bring communities together, featuring traditional music, dancing, and performances. Amy Jackson shows off her baby bump in a blue bikini
BBC News
23-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
St George's Day: Who was England's patron saint?
Every year on 23 April, many people across England celebrate the country's patron saint, St saints are chosen as special protectors or guardians over all areas of Scotland, Wales and Ireland all have their own patron saints. St George isn't just the patron saint for also holds this position for Aragon, Catalonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Palestine, Portugal, Germany, Greece, Moscow, Istanbul, Genoa and Venice (second to Saint Mark). Who was Saint George? Very little is actually known about George, and there are a lot of stories about him that are full of myth and is believed he was born in a place called Cappadocia - an area which is now in Turkey - and he lived during the 3rd parents were Christians, and, after his father died, his mother took George to live in the Middle East, where she was originally became a Roman soldier but protested against how badly Rome treated Christian people. He was put in prison and tortured because of this, but he refused to turn away from his religious beliefs. He was eventually is said that the Roman Emperor's wife was so impressed by how George did not give up his faith that she became a Christian is believed that she was executed in the same way George had been. What is the St George's Cross and what does it represent? The flag of Saint George is a red cross on a white England's national flag and you may have seen it used to represent teams in sports like football, cricket and rugby. It's also incorporated into the Union Flag, which is also known as the Union Jack (the UK's flag).The cross of St George was joined with the cross of St Andrew in 1606 to create the Union Jack. What about the dragon? One story many people think of when St George's name is mentioned is that of him slaying a story became popular when it was printed in 1483 in a book called The Golden has it that George came to a city called Silene, in a country called Libya, where there was a people of the city were feeding sheep to the dragon every day to stop it from attacking them - but they ran out of sheep. So they had to nominate people from the town to be sacrificed to the the king's daughter was selected, he tried to protect her - but the people of the town refused, saying that if they were expected to sacrifice their loved ones to the dragon, why shouldn't he?George came across the princess waiting to be sacrificed to the dragon, and she told him what was happening in the dragon turned up, and George is said to have fought with the dragon and captured it, putting a collar round its princess led the defeated dragon into the city, and people were terrified when they saw it. George told them not to worry and to put their faith in town converted to Christianity, and eventually the dragon was killed. Why is St George the patron saint of England? One thing that we do know about St George is that he wasn't actually English. It is even believed that he may never have stepped foot in the people have actually campaigned for St Edmund to be the patron of England, as they believe he is more English and more suitable for the title, but the country's patron saint has not been in the 14th century, King Edward III (1327-77) was so inspired by tales of King Arthur and his knights that he founded something called the Order of the Garter around 1348. The Order of the Garter was a special group of knights (and it still exists today).He made St George the patron of this Order and its badge depicts George slaying the dragon, so St George remains an important symbol of knighthood. St George's Chapel was built at Windsor Castle by Edward IV and Henry VII and made the official chapel for the Order of the soldiers also used to wear the cross of St George on their fronts and the 14th century, Saint George came to be regarded as a special protector of the English. How is St George's Day celebrated? Normally there are traditional parades and celebrations like fetes, church services and traditional English activities like Morris you could decorate your home, or if you're feeling really crafty, make some flag bunting from pieces of paper. Perhaps you could draw a picture of St George or his flag to put in your window for other children to could also dress up as a character from one of the legends surrounding St George, maybe as a knight or a dragon. St George's Day celebrations around the world St George's Day celebrations don't just happen in the UK. In Spain, people exchange books and roses with one another, while a whole lamb is roasted for a special feast in are lots of celebrations in Brazil including fireworks and people eat a traditional stew called feijoada which is made with black beans. In Croatia, celebrations include singing and dancing, and bonfires are also lit.
