England's population are filled with red (and white) flags

England is filled with red (and white) flags

It’s a usual Friday in August, and I’m driving down the M1 back to Leicester after a week away camping. As I’m closing in on Fosse Park, I see a bridge full of England flags dangling down from it.

Normally, there is only one reason you see an England flag, and that’s when we are in a major footballing tournament. And last I checked, England are not in one, and them being there for the Lionesses' triumphant win seemed far too optimistic.

I’d be right to feel as such. Lo and behold, the reason cities across England are painted with red and white flags is actually because of patriarchal values in the biggest quotation marks you can find.

If you are not aware, the reason you can’t turn a corner without seeing a flag is due to the reaction of hotels sheltering asylum seekers. The ‘I’m not racist, but’ brigade seems to think our flag being put out everywhere is the rational response to such a thing.

You know, instead of just going about your day like a normal person. Enjoying the delights of a crisp summer's day or McDonald's bringing back the spicy McNuggets. But no, spend your time waving your fist at a hotel entrance. That’ll do it. Proper Britain, one, illegal immigrants, zero.

It shouldn’t come as a shock that these people are doing this. After all, when you’ve failed in your own life, the next best thing is to put your hatred onto a marginalised group for no reason.

Make no mistake, this is racism. This is spurring from hate. The microaggressions you are seeing are just that. 

The issue is, when originally these groups of people struggled to find each other, they are now spewing their shit online and finding like-minded morons.

The babbling fool Tommy Robinson is, of course, front and centre. Famous for being a right-wing activist, going to prison for contempt of court, and, ironically, running away to another country when things get hard. The jokes write themselves.

A new ring leader is Tom Skinner from The Apprentice. If you don't know him - you're lucky - he is famous for saying ‘bosh’ and the ‘I’m not nervous’ clip. He has taken to X to moan about the country and say how much better life used to be fifteen years ago. He doesn’t want much, just ‘proper British values’. Sure, that’s all it is. One look at his account will tell you all you need to know about his true intentions.

In London on the 13th September, there will be a march for people who are ‘Proud to be British’. A funny notion. Not sure what part they are proud of, our history isn’t something we should be gleaming with pride about. 

They want England to be England again. No more illegal immigrants. Just pure British values. That is, until a black player from Africa scores for their football team, and they go home and have a Chinese after the game.

Which lies the issue. Regardless of their stances on these things, it's the hypocrisy which exposes them for their true colours. They disguise their racism under British values and protecting women and children, but only when it is a non-white person doing it.

Because I can assure you, I bet the majority wasn’t there at the UK Women's March back in January. Or in May, when there was a March for Children. I can guarantee you didn’t hear a peep out of them then.

If they disagree with illegal immigrants, then whatever. They can think that. But let’s just call it what it is. It’s not patriarchy, it’s not about children, and you're definitely not trying to protect women. Stop hiding behind the red and white flag and say it for what it actually is.

Whatever happens, whether they succeed, they will still wake up the next day going to the job they hate, the life they find miserable and the same problems they were always facing.

Time to start looking in the mirror.