Flying The Union Jack: Patriotic Concern, or a Fuel for Racism?

A social media campaign urging residents to display Union Jack and St. George's Cross flags has sparked a complex debate in Redbridge, pitting assertions of national pride against concerns over community division and safety.

The recent display of Union Jack and St. George's Cross flags across the London Borough of Redbridge is part of "Operation Raise the Colours," a campaign circulating on social media that organizers describe as a non-political act of national pride. 

Most participants of  the campaign claim that its purpose is to celebrate “patriotism” and bring the “community together,” explicitly insisting that it isn’t about “racism.” Despite these assertions of unity, the movement has simultaneously raised safety concerns among marginalised residents and is under scrutiny for its association with anti-immigration rhetoric.

While proponents label "Operation Raise the Colours" as a patriotic effort, its online discussion forums have been documented as sites for hate speech and derogatory rhetoric targeting the Muslim community and other minorities.

Evidence of this hostile environment can be found in posts from the campaign's own forums. One anonymous member stated, “Money talks. Stop buying their takeaways, don't shop at ASDA, don't use their petrol stations.” Another member commented, “No harm to anybody, but flags ain't going to stop the illegal immigrants, not whilst our Government is giving them our hard-earned taxes as freebies and welcoming gifts.”

A video posted on the campaign X’s account shows two immigrants being questioned about their possessions by a man who alleges that taxpayers are funding the luxuries of asylum seekers.

The visible proliferation of flags on street lights and public property - in this case, a Union Jack beanie placed on a Winston Churchill statue - has been accompanied by what community leaders report as a tangible sense of fear among some residents. 

In a written statement, Calvin Bailey, local MP of Wanstead and Leyton, said, “As many of you will know, over recent weeks, there have been a number of deeply concerning incidents in our community. Flags have been placed on the George Lane viaduct in South Woodford, directly outside one of our local mosques. This was a deliberate and provocative act that has caused real upset, and it has no place here.”

This sense of alarm is compounded by the broader national context, including the speeches of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and anti-Islam campaigner Tommy Robinson. Farage has pledged to “stop the boats” carrying asylum seekers, if elected. This rhetoric often overlooks the scale of the UK's refugee intake; according to the UK’s leading refugee charity, Refugee Action, only 1% of the 27.1 million displaced refugees reside in the UK. 

Some local residents are calling for community engagement over symbolic displays. Redbridge resident, William Walsh, expressed this view, stating, “if people want to be 'patriotic' then they should go out and engage with their local community, talk to and get to know their neighbours, volunteer for local charities and take part in activities that benefit the people they live alongside......not put up flags because someone has told them we have to 'take back our country'.”

As the flags continue to appear, the ongoing debate in Redbridge highlights the sharp divide between a campaign of national pride and the community anxiety it has provoked. According to a  PDA Bame Network survey,  public opinion is nearly split, with 41% of respondents believing the increase in flags to be a display of pride and unity, and 42% of respondents perceiving them as a propagation of anti-immigration rhetoric. Separately, The Guardian reported that an anonymous NHS trust chief executive said some Black and Asian NHS workers have expressed feeling unsafe entering areas where the flags are prominently displayed.

While it isn’t illegal to display flags in owned properties, Redbridge council enforces a strict policy against attaching any object to street furniture. This is to maintain public safety and prevent the obstruction of CCTV and road signs.