Amid growing debates over patriotism and public displays, Kemi Badenoch has hit out at councils that are taking down St George flags, warning that such actions are stoking racial and cultural division.
The Tory leadership figure says there is “nothing racist about flying the flag of your nation” and emphasizes that feeling pride in England should not be considered extreme.
A Warning About Mixed Messages
Badenoch argues that Labour-run councils, by discouraging patriotic flag-flying, are sending the wrong message to ethnic minorities that the English flag is “not for them.”
In an article for the Daily Mail, she criticizes local authorities for what she calls “double standards,” pointing out that Palestinian banners and other countries’ independence celebrations are often allowed, alongside support for movements like Black Lives Matter.
Calling Out Politicians and Media Stunts
Badenoch also took aim at Labour leader Keir Starmer, accusing him of using the English flag as a “football prop” and suggesting that other Labour MPs are only posing with it under political instructions.
She writes: “The flag of St George predates the Union flag.
It is a symbol that has stood for centuries. The denigration of anything British in the name of ‘diversity’ is not progressive. It is divisive. It must stop.”
The Growing Flag Campaign
The debate has intensified as grassroots campaigns push to see more St George and Union flags across England.
Controversy began in Birmingham when the city council announced it would remove hundreds of flags installed on lamp posts by a group identifying as “proud English men.”
The council claimed safety concerns, despite similar banners for Palestine having been allowed for months and other cultural displays taking place without interruption.
Unequal Enforcement Sparks Outrage
Similar disputes erupted in Tower Hamlets, east London, where workers removed St George flags while Palestinian flags remained untouched.
Town halls across the UK have condemned informal displays of St George crosses on mini-roundabouts, with police investigating some cases as criminal damage.
Meanwhile, residents like Ben Thornbury in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, have creatively painted the cross on potholes, only to be told their efforts are considered vandalism.
Political and Public Reactions
The campaign has triggered a wide range of responses. Conservative figures like Robert Jenrick have publicly displayed flags in protest, while some Labour and Liberal Democrat leaders have expressed concerns about far-right groups co-opting the symbol or intimidating residents.
Badenoch insists councils are applying rules selectively, saying: “The same officials who tear down an English flag will turn a blind eye to Palestinian flags flown in defiance of local regulations. Their concern is not legality, it is politics.”
Linking Flags to Broader Policy Battles
The clashes over flags are occurring alongside wider debates over asylum accommodation.
Police are preparing for demonstrations over the Bank Holiday weekend, and Badenoch highlights a recent court ruling in Epping that ordered the removal of asylum-seekers from a hotel.
She pledges to work with Tory councils on both flag-raising and ending “asylum hotels that are causing distress to local communities.”
Badenoch’s Call to Action
For Badenoch, the issue goes beyond flags. It’s about pride, fairness, and consistent treatment of national symbols.
She urges residents and councils alike to embrace English heritage openly: “We should fly them high – and instil that love and pride in our country in every generation.”
