3 d. ago Now we know what patriotism means to Shabana Mahmood – can she harness that to unite rather than divide us? | Gaby Hinsliff

The home secretary’s immigration plan is framed in punitive terms. But at least she is wrestling the debate back towards integration and belongingIn Twickenham, at the weekend, the crowd was a sea of red and white.England’s colours were everywhere – plastered on sweatshirts and painted over faces, fluttering from flags – and the mood was unmistakably joyful. For this was of course the Women’s Rugby World Cup final, not some ominous “raise the colours” rally: a chance to remember that the St George’s cross doesn’t belong to people who daub it on roundabouts to frighten the neighbours, that there is still a kind of Englishness that inspires hope, not fear. Rugby’s Red Roses, like football’s Lionesses and Gareth Southgate’s young male England squad before them, embody a consciously inclusive form of patriotism: a message that their victories are for everyone, male or female, black or white, gay or straight.Gaby Hinsliff is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...

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1 week ago Police launch probe after St George's Cross is painted on giant GOOSE mascot as move is dubbed 'a step too far'

Two-metre tall Goosey the Goose, the centrepiece of Nottingham's annual Goose Fair, was daubed with red paint in what seemed to be the latest protest in 'Operation Raise the Colours'.

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1 week ago Police appeal for witnesses after St George’s Cross painted on funfair goose mascot

Locals have described the act of vandalism as 'a step too far'

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1 week ago Police appeal after St George’s Cross painted on funfair goose mascot

The vandalism of the Goosey the Goose statue in Nottingham has been described as ‘a step too far’ by the city council.

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1 week ago UK and St George’s flags should never be used to ‘intimidate and terrify’, says senior Lib Dem

‘How dare the nationalists steal our flags?’ asks Tim Farron at party conference in BournemouthPeople who use the union jack or St George’s cross as a form of aggressive nationalism do not love their country, a senior Liberal Democrat has said, as he hit back at a wave of hard-right activism based around the flags.In a strongly worded speech to a rally opening the party’s annual conference in Bournemouth, Tim Farron, a former leader who now speaks for the party on the environment and rural affairs, said national flags should never be “used to intimidate”. Continue reading...

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1 week ago Sainsbury's sell out of some sizes of St George's cross babygrows after marketing them as one of 'this season's best looks'

The baby clothing, which costs just £1.20, has proved highly popular and is marked as 'in demand' and 'selling fast' on Tu Clothing's online shop, a fashion label owned by Sainsbury's.

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2 w. ago Police probe launched after historic white horse landmark was altered to feature St George's Cross

The famous Westbury White Horse, which has been carved into a Wiltshire hillside for 350 years was draped with red fabric to resemble the English flag on September 9.

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2 w. ago Police probe launched after historic white horse landmark was altered to feature St George's Cross

The famous Westbury White Horse, which has been carved into a Wiltshire hillside for 350 years was draped with red fabric to resemble the English flag on September 9.

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3 w. ago Scotland flags hoisted in Paisley's Ferguslie area raise concerns about what they represent

They have been hung along Blackstoun Road in Paisley following on from similar acts across parts of the nation.

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3 w. ago Historic white horse landmark is altered so it features a St George's Cross as 'Operation Raise the Colours' continues across the UK

The famous Westbury White Horse, which has been carved into Wiltshire hillside for 350 years, has had two lengths of red fabric pinned to it in a statement which apes the recent flag-flying trend.

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3 w. ago The moment a 'plastic patriot' spray paints St George's cross on local church

"The desecration of a church is outrageous. Enough is enough."

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3 w. ago ‘They just want a better life’: the UK households who host asylum seekers

The charity Refugees at Home helps volunteers with a spare room to lend take in people who have sought refugeUK politics live – latest updates“It’s heartbreaking for me, I don’t understand people putting up the flag,” said Mohammad, who crossed the Channel almost four years ago, desperate to escape persecution. Back then it was rare to see St George’s cross flags as frequently as he does driving around now. The flags are seen as divisive and dangerous in a climate of anti-migrant protests where political discourse is fixated on deportations, small boats and threats to withdraw the UK from human rights frameworks. It has left individuals who have sought refuge in the UK feeling anxious, upset and fearing repercussions.“Immigrants, they just want to have a better life. If our country was safe, was all right, we would never leave,” said Mohammad, who asked to use only his first name fearing reprisals. After facing persecution as a practising Christian in Shia-majority Iran, Mohammad le...

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4 w. ago St George’s Cross appears on city’s zebra crossings as flags hoisted across country

St George’s Cross flags have been hung on lampposts and painted on zebra crossings in York.

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4 w. ago Lily Allen joins Ellie Goulding in hitting out at protesting Brits as she claims flying flags is 'only acceptable' during football tournaments

Allen, 40, told an episode of her Miss Me? podcast that she disagrees with the 'sheer volume' of people flying the St George's Cross.

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