Key takeaways
- 52% of ethnic minority adults say the St George’s flag is now a racist symbol, compared to 36% of white adults
- Most in both groups say the Union Jack has *not* become a racist symbol
- Both white and ethnic minority adults tend to see this summer’s lamppost flag raisings as primarily about spreading an anti-migrant or anti-ethnic minority message, rather than a display of patriotism
- Ethnic minority adults tend to say they would be uncomfortable if large numbers of England flags were raised in their local area in such a manner
This summer’s ‘Operation Raise the Colours’ campaign – which saw England and UK flags attached to lampposts, telegraph poles and other public infrastructure – has prompted a discussion about the motives of the participants, as well as the symbolism of our flags.
Those taking part in hoisting the flags say they are a representation of their national pride, while opponents say they are actually being raised to express anti-migrant or anti-ethnic minority sentiment.
Now a new YouGov study examines how the public have reacted to the events, particularly comparing the views between white and ethnic minority adults.
Why do people think the flags are being raised?
The British public tend to think flags are being raised primarily as a way of expressing anti-migrant or anti-minority sentiment – especially when it comes to the England flag. Half (50%) believe this is the case for the St George’s cross, twice the number who say it is mainly as an expression of national pride (25%), while a further 19% say “both equally”.
When it comes to the Union Jack, 39% likewise see the motivations as mostly anti-migrant/minority, against 30% seeing the more patriotic explanation, and 24% thinking it is a mixture of both.
A majority of ethnic minority adults (55%) believe those putting up St George’s crosses are doing so “mostly as a way of expressing anti-migrant and/or anti-ethnic minority sentiment”, with a plurality (41%) saying the same of the union flag.
White adults too tend to believe anti-migrant/minority motivations are primarily behind the flag raisings, with 49% saying so for the English flag and 39% for the British one.
The public are slightly more likely to think that those who fly flags at their own home are merely being patriotic than those putting them up on lampposts and bridges. As a result, we see more of a split when it comes to the Union Jack, which 36% see as more of an act of patriotism when flown at home, compared to 34% who perceive it to be more a political statement against migrants and/or minorities.
When it comes to the England flag, the general suspicion still remains that the motivation is discriminatory, at 42% compared to 29% for patriotic.
Both white and ethnic minority adults tend to think that people displaying the St George’s cross at home are doing so with anti-migrant/minority intent. The gap is much narrower for the UK flag, with both groups effectively split on the subject.
How do people feel about flags going up near them?
Most people say they feel comfortable with the UK flag being raised by neighbours at their homes (57%), and with large numbers being raised in public settings as they were in the summer (53%). Nevertheless, more than a third in each case (35-39%) say it makes them feel uncomfortable.
When it comes to the England flag, this gap narrows, although the most common answer is still ‘comfortable’. By 51% to 41%, the British public are comfortable with neighbours flying the England flag, while by a much smaller margin (48% to 44%) they say the same of England flags being hoisted on infrastructure around the local area.
While white adults tend to be comfortable across these four scenarios, but ethnic minority adults tend to say they would feel ‘uncomfortable’ with England flags being raised on lampposts, bridges, etc near them, with 48% saying so compared to 41% who would feel comfortable.
Ethnic minority adults are split when it comes to their neighbours flying the St George’s cross, but are typically more comfortable than uncomfortable about the Union flag in either scenario.
Are the UK and England flags racist symbols?
Speaking to The Independent in response to the summer’s flag raisings, Birmingham City University’s Black studies professor Kehinde Andrews describes the St George’s flag as “a clear symbol of racism”.
While the British public tend to disagree, fewer than half refute the accusation (48%), with fully 39% agreeing that the England flag has become a racist symbol.
White adults are slightly more likely than the wider population to think St George’s cross has not become a symbol of racism (51%), but only a third of ethnic minority adults agree (34%). Instead, half of ethnic minority adults (52%) believe that the England flag has become a racist symbol.
Attitudes towards the Union Jack are dramatically different, however, with the majority of both white adults (67%) and ethnic minorities (58%) saying it has not become a racist symbol.
Pakistani/Bangladeshi heritage adults are the most negative about flags
Looking within the ethnic minority grouping shows that those of Pakistani or Bangladeshi heritage are consistently the most likely to see racist sentiment in the flag displays. This is particularly marked when it comes to the belief that the England flag has become a racist symbol with 68% of Pakistani/Bangladeshi adults believing this, compared to 54% of those of mixed ethnicity, 51% of those with Indian heritage and 43% of Black adults.
Where do voters stand on the flags?
The data finds that voters generally split down the left-right axis, with those backing left wing parties in 2024 (Labour, Lib Dems and Greens) being much more likely to see racist sentiment underpinning the flags than their Conservative and Reform UK counterparts, and to likewise feel uncomfortable about them being displayed in their local area.
When it comes to the symbology of the England flag, fully 71% of Green voters, as well as a majority of Labour (58%) and Lib Dem voters (53%), see the St George’s flag as a racist symbol, compared to just 19% of Tory and 8% of Reform UK voters.
Only a minority among each party think the same applies to the Union Jack, with just 3% of Reform voters, 10% of Tories, 26% of Lib Dems and 29% of Labour voters saying so – the majority in each of these voting groups say the UK flag is not racist.
The Greens stand apart, being effectively divided on the Union flag, with 39% saying it is racist, but 41% disagreeing.
See the full topline results for GB, England, white and all ethnic minorities here
See the results by individual ethnic minority group here
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Photo: Getty
