The display of national flags, such as the Union Jack and St George’s Cross, is being met with hostility from left-wing politicians, who claim it creates “fear and division” in local communities.

The true reason for the ban, Paul Embery says, is their disdain for patriotism and traditional British culture.

What is it about our national flag that brings out such hypocrisy in the metropolitan elites? Why do these people, who seem entirely relaxed about the display of virtually every other kind of flag, even politically contentious or divisive ones, exhibit such hostility towards the colours of their own nation?

In recent days, Oxfordshire County Council became the first local authority to successfully impose a legal ban on the placement of flags on lampposts, after activists from the ‘Raise the Colours’ campaign had festooned some streets with the Union Jack and St George’s Cross.

The council is run by – no surprises here – the Liberal Democrats. In the high court, where it was seeking an injunction against the activists, the council claimed that the display of flags from roadside infrastructure gave rise to serious safety concerns.

But its leader, Tim Bearder, had already disclosed what appeared to be the real reason for the ban, telling the media before the court hearing that the flags were creating “fear and division” in local communities.

Because that’s the true agenda here, isn’t it? It isn’t really about “safety.” This was a political manoeuvre by a council led by a group of cosmopolitan universalists who despise any expression of old-fashioned patriotism by working-class members of the majority culture. They see such sentiments as vulgar, reactionary and thoroughly at odds with a modern, diverse country that is obliged to feel permanent guilt for its imperial past.

Oxfordshire isn’t alone. Councillors in Bristol – Greens, this time – have been trying to prohibit public displays of the St George’s Cross on local streets during the World Cup. Justifying the council’s actions, leader Tony Dyer said that the city must remain “welcoming, respectful and safe for everyone during the tournament.”

Meanwhile, [liberal left-wing] politicians and commentators across the country can be found engaging in similar handwringing over the explosion of national flags on local streets. Like the Oxfordshire and Bristol councillors, they see the whole thing as intimidating towards minorities and want it stopped.

Read More – Left-wing politicians’ disdain for patriotism and British culture is behind their war on national flags