39 h. ago 'I visited bleakest UK town with more St George's flags than people for one highlight'

With one of the worst pub food experiences, a deserted high street and a pint-glass littered river front - there is only one thing going for this Essex town.

Politics

60 h. ago Parent is arrested in secondary school reception and held by police for eight hours after complaining that teacher had told pupils St George flags could be 'racist symbol'

Broadoak School, in Partington, Greater Manchester, has launched an investigation into comments allegedly made to pupils on Friday morning following complaints by parents.

Society

61 h. ago School apologises to fuming parents after teacher's comments about St George's flag

The school said it will 're-address the concerns' and stressed that teachers 'will remain politically neutral when teaching political topics in school'

Society

3 d. ago School apologises after teacher labels St George's flag as 'racist symbol'

Parents of pupils at the school said they were 'livid'.

Politics

3 d. ago School apologises to furious parents over teacher's remarks about St George's flag

Broadoak School in Partington has said it has launched an investigation following complaints by parents

Society

9 d. ago St George’s flag campaigners are branded ‘nonces’ by Labour council leader

Jeremy Newmark, the Labour leader of Hertsmere borough council, made the outburst during a council meeting last week in which he branded Operation Raise the Colours organisers as nonces

Politics

9 d. ago Labour council leader facing calls to resign after calling St George's flag campaigners 'nonces'

Jeremy Newmark, the leader of Hertsmere Borough Council in Hertfordshire, also described supporters of the Operation Raise the Colours movement as ‘criminals’ and ‘extremists’

Politics

1 week ago Moment yob tears down St George's flag outside home of Olympic hero Adam Peaty's mother

Caroline Peaty, 59, captured the disturbing act on CCTV as two men approached her home in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, on Saturday night.

Politics

1 week ago Moment Labour council leader calls St George flag campaigners 'a bunch of criminals and nonces'

Ex-parliamentary candidate Jeremy Newmark spoke out over a movement known as Operation Raise The Colours - to gasps from Hertfordshire councillors.

Politics

1 week ago George Russell ‘glad to see chequered flag’ after battling illness in Baku

The Mercedes driver was struggling with an infection throughout the weekend but finished an impressive second.

Events

1 week ago British artists reclaim St George’s flag with a message of inclusivity

In Manchester and beyond creative responses to the unwelcome message of ‘raise the colours’ are appearing‘Scary’ and ‘I loved it’: the ‘unite the kingdom’ marchArtists in Britain have customised St George’s flags with messages celebrating diversity, in response to a campaign in which national banners have been flown from lamp-posts, outside homes and painted on roundabouts.While for many, flying the flag is a genuine expression of national pride, some flags have been graffitied on businesses and places of worship belonging to minority ethnic Britons, in some cases with slurs, after the launch of the operation “raise the colours”. Continue reading...

Politics

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...

Events

2 w. ago I went home, to one of Labour’s safest seats, and it felt like a newly minted Reform constituency | Kirsty Major

Knowsley is a Labour stronghold. But judging by the polls and the people I spoke to, the messages of the right are truly cutting throughAt the weekend, I took the well-worn journey from London to Knowsley in Merseyside. I’ve made this trip so many times that I can execute it with military precision, arriving just in time before the train doors close, even with a toddler in tow this time around. My uncle picked us up from the station and as we turned on to the motorway, I saw St George’s flags hanging over us from the sides of bridges. Union jacks circled the roundabout just before we turned off to go to my auntie’s house. Knowsley is Labour’s fourth-safest seat in the UK, but it felt like a newly minted Reform constituency.It was a Friday evening, so we opened a bottle of wine and put pizzas in the oven. I was updated on various family milestones – a house sale had gone through, a baby bump was starting to show, the poor dog was on its last legs. My daughter entertained everyone wit...

Politics

2 w. ago Little Mix's Jade Thirwall speaks out about St George's flag on Angel of the North

The former Little Mix star has spoken out

Politics

2 w. ago Little Mix's Jade Thirlwall speaks out about St George's flag on Angel of the North

The former Little Mix star has spoken out

Politics

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...

Events

3 w. ago 'My St George's flag was taken down six times in six days but I'm not racist'

Kevin Houten, from Longsight, has been flying the English flag outside his home for six days in protest against the way the government is running the country – but it keeps getting torn down

Politics

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.

Politics

4 w. ago 'They shouldn't be removed, they should be compulsory': Americans claim Brits are oppressed as they wade into St George's flag row

Americans, it's safe to say, love their flag - so it was only a matter of time until they started sharing their views on the debate over flying the colours here in Britain.

Politics

4 w. ago 'Bonkers' Essex county council needs to 'get a grip' after offering support to staff 'unsettled' by St George's flags, says its own deputy leader

Bosses at Essex County Council sent an email around to workers addressing the increased number of England flags being raised across the country.

Politics