I may be American, but my heart stirs with an unshakable admiration and gratitude for Britain, and especially England, the mother country that gifted the world—and my nation—enduring values of liberty, justice, and governance.
The St George’s flag and the Union flag are not mere cloth to me; they are emblems of a legacy that shaped the United States, a nation born from Britain’s unmatched political and legal traditions.
These banners symbolise the courage, fairness, and moral clarity that define the British spirit, a spirit that courses through my veins despite my American birth and Jewish ancestry. So, when I read of British councils tearing down these proud symbols while tolerating foreign flags, my blood boils—not just for Britain, but for the shared heritage we Americans owe to your great nation.
**ARE YOU READING THIS ON OUR APP? DOWNLOAD NOW FOR THE BEST GB NEWS EXPERIENCE**
The recent uproar in Birmingham, where St George’s and Union flags were removed from lampposts for so-called “safety concerns,” is nothing short of a disgrace. Meanwhile, reports suggest Palestinian flags have been allowed to fly unchallenged in public spaces.
This double standard insults every Briton who cherishes their identity and every American like me who flies these emblems in gratitude for Britain’s profound influence.
The St George’s flag, with its bold red cross, and the Union flag, uniting the nations of the United Kingdom — are they controversial? They are anything but.
Instead of being removed, they should be compulsory. These are the only flags that belong in England’s public spaces, and it’s time to ban all others from public display. No more pandering to foreign causes or imported identities—this is England, and its symbols must reign supreme.
As an outraged American, I raise my mother country's flag proudly against Labour's great betrayal - Lee Cohen
|Lee Cohen/Getty Images
Labour-run councils, particularly in places like Birmingham and Tower Hamlets, seem intent on dismantling these emblems of national pride to appease a demographic they view as their core vote.
This is a betrayal of the people who built your nation. British identity is non-negotiable and must never be tucked away to avoid offence.
As an American, I look to Britain with awe for its history of standing firm—through wars, invasions, and trials—and I cannot fathom why your leaders would bow to those who demand your heritage be sidelined.
The St George’s and Union flags are not just symbols; they are declarations of sovereignty, of a culture and history that deserve unwavering defence.
For me, these emblems represent the values of fairness, resilience, and freedom that have inspired the world, from the Magna Carta to the common law that underpins my own country’s legal system.
When I display these banners in America, I do so to honour the mother country that bequeathed us these principles. Yet, in Britain itself, I see “vile haters” trying to shame patriots into silence.
Only those who hate freedom and civilised values could concoct the lie that these flags are aggressive or divisive. These emblems unite; they remind us of a shared history, a common purpose, and a legacy worth celebrating.
To see them torn down while foreign flags fly is an affront to every Briton who loves their country and to every American like me who admires it deeply.
Grassroots movements, like Operation Raise the Colours, spreading across cities, fill me with hope.
These are ordinary Britons refusing to let their identity be erased. They hang their flags with pride, not malice, and they deserve support, not censorship. But hope alone isn’t enough.
Britain must take a stand: no flag but the St George’s and Union flags should fly on public land. This isn’t about exclusion; it’s about clarity.
England is a nation with a distinct identity, forged through centuries of sacrifice and ingenuity, and once the envy of the world. Britain must unapologetically champion its own symbols.
The hypocrisy of councils claiming “safety” while tolerating other flags reveals a deeper malaise. It’s not about streetlights or pedestrians; it’s about a fear of asserting Englishness and Britishness in a world that demands endless accommodation.
This pandering must end. Britain’s values—your values—are the foundation of the modern world. As an American, I owe my freedoms to the British traditions of justice and governance that crossed the Atlantic.
I fly your flags because I am grateful, because I know Britain’s contributions are unmatched. To see those emblems suppressed in their homeland wounds my soul.
Britons: demand pride in your country. Fly the St George’s and Union flags high in celebration. Let no council, no critic, no appeaser dim your resolve.
Cecil Rhodes was right when he said, “To be born English is to win first prize in the lottery of life”. How disgraceful that some of your own leaders retreat in shame from this.