AN MP says he hopes communities across Lichfield and Burntwood will stand up against “an ideology of hatred and discrimination”.
It comes after a national news report revealed that a number of flags put up across the area had been supplied by far-right figure Tommy Robinson.
St George and Union flags have flown from lampposts across the area in recent weeks.
But after those putting some of them up revealed that they had been given them by Robinson, Lichfield’s Labour MP Dave Robertson said efforts to divide local communities should be shunned.
He said:
“I really welcome people celebrating our flag and everything that is great about our country. Our flag should be, and is, a powerful force for unity.
“However, reports have shown that some of the flags that have been put up have been altered to carry slogans and were provided by the far-right criminal Tommy Robinson.
“Let me be absolutely clear – people trying to use the best symbols of our country to divide our community or to spread a racist ideology are not welcome in our city, town or villages.
“The Union Flag and St George’s Cross should be symbols that bring our community together.
“I know our community will stand up for the real meaning of these flags and stand against an ideology of hatred and discrimination.”
The Sky News article didn’t do Lichfield any favours!
Well said, Dave Robertson! I have already pointed out to Staffs County Council that ‘Operation Raise the Colours’ was instigated by the far right. The reply I received failed to address this.
One recent comment on Lichfield Live suggested anyone who disagrees with the flags flying from lampposts is unwelcome in their own community:
“If our flag offends you I would willingly help you pack!”
Such attitudes are hateful, divisive and unpatriotic and are not representative of our community.
This follows on from Reform introducing policies which prohibit the flying of other flags on county council property, including, for example, the rainbow flag.
As someone who grew up in Burntwood and raised my own children here, I want all members of my community to feel welcome, including newcomers. And as a British citizen, I want to see our national flags be symbols of unity and welcome and something to be celebrated, not feared.
If the “flagger” had been revealed as a genuine patriot and hard-working Lichfield resident most people would have said ‘Fair enough’ and in time once the flags had blown away, no one would really care or remember.
However, as it’s one of Tommy Robinson’s acolytes with an anti-immigration message it proves all those against the flags correct: they are being used for nationalist racist propaganda and nothing whatsoever to do with patriotism or celebrating national identity.
This is why we can’t have nice things, a minority of ignorant idiots ruin it for the majority.
I go further than that Tony. I think it showed Lichfield in a very poor light indeed. It was embarrassing.
Well Tony, the truth only hurts when it should do.
This comes as no surprise to many of us, including the politicians who have fanned the flames and helped to normalise far right rhetoric. It shouldn’t take our city being shamed on national news for leaders to acknowledge our concerns or take them seriously and I really hope these words will be followed up with accountability and action.
If we didn’t know already, now we can be certain what the true purpose of the flagwaving is, promoting hate, exclusion, division. On top of that they are hugely distracting hence dangerous, and they are illegal! So what are authorities waiting for with regards to enforcing the law, and why are national politicians not making clear what their expectations are in this regard? You don’t deal with right wing extremism by imitating and appeasing it, that only encourages and emboldens it. Truely courageous politicians challenge bigotry and intolerance and offer a kinder, inclusive alternative (before it’s too late)
The ideology of hatred and discrimination is extremely worrying and it seems that the UK is building up in the last couple of years with more of this extreme behaviour. Almost every weekend there appears to be these awful demonstrations in London and other major cities of antisemitic behaviour against the Jewish community by the militant violent and racist left wing thugs. We see it locally at a factory in Shenstone which causes great distress and disruption for the local community.
Well you live a very blinkered life if you are not aware of World events. For numerous reasons populations have become much more liquid. The question is how can this be accommodated? Economies can be inundated by the provisions such immigration involves. Most European countries are struggling with this problem. You are not ‘racist’ because you realise there has to be a limit to what we can accommodate. We celebrate the opening of food banks! Do we not see the implication of that? The bleeding hearts writing on here seem oblivious to the consequences of what is happening. Many of the problems we are experiencing relate to population size and the lack of meaningful employment in all classes and races in our society.
It’s not that many years ago that a certain national party used the union flag in their broadcasts and pamphlets. The country rejected them then and should again despite name changes.
Quite surprised that the utility companies who own the lampposts are not forthcoming in their objections. It is trespassing on their property plus the chances of possible damage.