Using the flag of the UK… on campaign material for a UK political party? Jaysus lads, what were they thinking?!
Unless it’s used in a jingoistic way (think wrapped around a 19th century military figure that has their boots on the backs of the poor whilst proclaiming Britons never never shall be slaves type of thing) then I really don’t get why Labour party members are in fighting about such a thing instead of concentrating on winning a thumping majority.
I think the electorate is smart enough to understand this.
I think maintaining your values is important. Especially when so many have been eroded in the name of winning a thinking majority. Labour hasn’t been a flag waving party since World War 2. In fact that kinda stuff has been left to the likes of the Farage’s.
Maybe waving the flag a bit more would have helped capture those people that don’t think beyond it? Does no harm, surely?
Harm would potentially be. Huge number of people who associate it with nationalism.
Parties like BNP EDL etc have given the idea a bad taste. Add the negativity that the “Soverienty” crap during brexit caused. Means there is a sizable % of voters. Seeing its use in political ads as negative.
Given the tory party media seems to be selecting articles designed to reduce labour turn out. I imagine many labour MPs are thinking why the hell help them.
The thing is, Labour has been the home traditionally of people of colour. Unfortunately the same people that wave flags often tell those people of colour to go home. Now you’re saying they should be made to feel unwelcome in order to capture people that at the very least, align with racists?
As a different flag waving Labour PM once said, ‘There’s only one Labour tradition I never liked: losing’.
Labour’s values are British values, and vice-versa. I’m not saying this in a jingoistic way, but our particular form of social democracy is a part of how we see ourselves as a country, and Labour is obviously a part of that. There’s no harm in saying we like this country and no possible good can come from pretending we don’t.
Anyway, if flag-waving was something Labour was doing as far back as World War 2, I’d say that in itself makes it pretty traditional.
Considering the sizable issues this country is facing, this seems like a stupid hill to die on.
You do have to feel for these red wall Brexit voters.
Apparently they require constant visual assurance that they are in fact still in Britain, and can’t just maintain this information in their heads like the rest of us.
Imagine getting mad because your election flyers have the flag of the country you’re (supposedly) trying to become the government of.
This is by far the most minor thing Starmer has done to appeal to right winged voters, the sad thing is though - it works, this is exactly how the Overton window is shifted.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
Keir Starmer is facing discontent from Labour MPs over the dominant use of the union flag in election campaign material amid concern it may alienate ethnic minority voters and others.
There is also increasing unhappiness about the lengthy delay to the investigation into Diane Abbott, who had the Labour whip removed almost a year ago, as well as discontent over the party’s progress on BAME representation.
The union flag has taken on an increasingly prominent role under Starmer as he seeks to emphasise Labour’s “patriotic” credentials to assert that the party has changed from the Jeremy Corbyn era.
“I can see how it would work in some places but it’s definitely detrimental in university towns, and in heavily BAME seats,” said another MP who attended one of the meetings and who added that “multiple colleagues” had told him of activists refusing to give out the leaflets.
“The flag dominates, and of course Labour red,” states the video, which also recommends the use of a “poppins” font and says that MPs and organisers should use the template to ensure “brand consistency”.
A leaked strategy document seen by the Guardian in 2021 advised Labour to make “use of the [union] flag, veterans [and] dressing smartly” as part of a rebranding.
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