Tom Harwood: Union Flag is a symbol of kinship and freedom

I’ve been looking at some of those images of the vigils for Sir David - particularly in the context of his work towards a free and Democratic Iran.

Among those images there’s a sight that never fails to make me quite proud. It’s optimised in the National Council of Resistance of Iran themselves proudly flying the UK flag at its memorial service to Sir David Amess.

But they are not the only group who have huge respect for many of our politicians, and our flag. The Gurkha justice campaign proudly flew the Union Flag too.

And it was a common sight among the freedom fighters of the Hong Kong democracy movement. At one point those protestors raised the British flag in the Communist controlled legislature as an act of resistance.

Around the world the UK, our flag, has been flown as a symbol of kinship and freedom. Originally devised by a Scot - King James the Sixth and First - it is a testament to hundreds of years of British unity, and British success.

That so many groups around the world see it as a standard to bear against their oppression should make us incredibly proud.

Yes, not everything in our history should be lauded, but our successes, influence, and the hope that we can still provide must not be diminished.

I really do wish that more on the British left could learn to see our flag in that way too.