UK Hate Crime Unit brands English flags 'narrative challenge' in secret meeting joined by 'anti-Muslim hatred' group

A leaked email seen by GB News described the meeting, saying: “The Group discussed the various anti-migrant protests around the country.

“They agreed the tone is less hostile but increasingly febrile with an increase in public flag displays and graffiti.”

The memo continued: “There is a general commitment to remove racist graffiti within 48 hours - but flags/crosses present narrative challenges.”

The email also describes “concerns” from the Met Police with “how different local authorities were responding to the flag issue - whilst some are removing the flags, others aren't”.

A Home Office source told GB News: “I have seen more Palestinian flags flying in the Home Office than English ones.

“Many of my colleagues are ashamed of this campaign, and view English patriotism as racist and suspect.

“The police have also swallowed this line. Unfortunately many Home Office officials are not patriotic, and are in fact ashamed of Britain,” they added.

“They do not believe in borders and find anti-migrant protests disgusting displays of hatred and bigotry.”

The meeting was undertaken by the National Community Tensions/Hate Crime Gold Group, a group set up by the National Police Chiefs’ Council, and featured discussions around “social media misinformation”, “anti-Muslim hatred”, “disability hate crime” and “anti-migrant protests and sentiment”.

It was chaired by the National Police Advisor for Hate Crime, and featured representatives from the Metropolitan Police Service, Greater Manchester Police, Police Service for Northern Ireland, Government officials from the Home Office and Welsh Government, Ofcom, and the Independent Advisory Group on Hate Crime for Policing and Criminal Justice.

Officials were urged to “pass on this information to Ministers as you see fit” from the meeting.

The hate crime group was also joined by Tell Mama, an independent group that monitors "anti-Muslim hatred".

The memo says Tell Mama raised concerns that “The level of anti-Muslim hatred reporting has increased linked to the high levels of anti-migrant sentiment”.

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Reform UK's chief whip Lee Anderson said: “This leaked memo only reinforces what we’ve known all along: this Labour government has little loyalty to our country, is anti-British to its roots, and dismissive of our heritage.

“The United Kingdom is a nation to be immensely proud of. For centuries, we have been among the most generous, welcoming, and innovative in the world.

“If Government officials see the English flag as an obstacle, perhaps they should consider living in a different country.”

A source close to the Home Office described this as an external meeting attended by its officials alongside other stakeholders. They claimed that Home Official officials did not participate in the discussion or make the comments.

The meeting was convened after a national campaign swept England to raise St George’s crosses and Union Jacks on streets and houses around the country.

Discussing the campaign, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said he is a “supporter” of flags, and said he has a “St George’s flag in our flat” in Downing Street.

Left-wing campaign groups including Hope Not Hate have criticised the campaign as being linked with the far-right.

Some local authorities across England have removed flags from roads and roundabouts, as well as public properties.

Barnsley Council has said it has removed flags which create a "safety risk" when installed in the wrong places.

Robert Bates, Director of the Centre for Migration Control, said: “Officials are clearly embarrassed by our great country, and outward expressions of patriotism from the British public.

“The overt disdain for this country by those tasked with running it, is precisely the reason why we are teetering on the brink of a national crisis.

He continued: “Those who are ashamed of England, or Britain, have no business making decisions about our country’s future.

“To them, our heritage is a cause of embarrassment whereas modern fads have their flags flown from council buildings and Government departments.”

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “The decision on how to respond to the placing of flags in public places is an issue for local authorities."

"Officers would only respond if criminal offences were committed."

"The comment reflected in the memo is merely a reflection that in a city of 32 boroughs each with its own local authority, differences in approach present challenges for the police in terms of consistent operational planning and briefing."

A Government spokesman said: “This week, both the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary recognised the flying of the Union Flag and St George’s Cross as unifying symbols of national identity, heritage and shared values.

“Any other characterisation is entirely unreflective of the Government’s views.”