escalating resistance against immigration sparks surge in displays of British nationalism
In recent times, England has witnessed an unprecedented surge of patriotism, as hundreds of thousands of St George's and Union Jack flags have been raised across the country. This trend, known as "Operation Raise the Colours," has gained significant traction, particularly in the wake of Nigel Farage's anti-immigration Reform UK party's focus on the arrival of migrant-packed boats from France.
The Reform UK party, which made unprecedented gains in local elections in May, is currently topping the national polls, although a general election is not due until 2029. The party's rise has been linked to growing discontent and frustration with the government's immigration policy, according to Michael Kenny, a public policy professor at the University of Cambridge.
The main organizing force behind the trend is a group called "Operation Raise the Colours," co-founded by Andy Saxon, who is reportedly linked to notorious far-right agitator Tommy Robinson's now-defunct English Defence League. The campaign, which is against illegal immigration, is standing for that, according to Carla Kennedy, a resident from Worcester in Western England, who is part of a group that has erected hundreds of St George's flags.
However, the use of the flags has sparked debate. While Keir Starmer, the UK Prime Minister, has both a Union Jack and St George's flag in his Downing Street office and residence, expressing pride in the flags, others caution against devaluing and belittling them when used purely for divisive purposes. Anti-racism campaigners argue that the flag campaign fosters division, with sometimes violent protests outside hotels housing asylum-seekers, most notably in Epping, northeast of London.
Across the Irish Sea, a similar standoff has developed between Dublin City Council and groups who have put the Irish tricolour on lampposts in districts with large immigrant populations. Meanwhile, Paul Golding, the leader of Britain First, has donated 75% of his group's flag stock to local teams in Manchester and the West Midlands for 'Operation Raise The Colours'.
The English flag, the cross of Saint George - a red cross on a white background, and the Union Jack, composed of symbols representing England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, are typically flown for royal celebrations or at sporting tournaments. However, they are now appearing on various structures across England, with some roundabouts and road crossings even being painted with the red and white colors of England's national flag.
Robinson, who is organizing what he calls "the UK's biggest free speech festival" in London on September 13, has called the flags "a glorious sight." Kennedy acknowledged that while patriotic in nature, the campaign is linked to growing anti-immigration sentiment. Despite this, the debate about immigration in the United Kingdom continues, with the flags serving as a symbol of the nation's complex and evolving relationship with immigration.
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