Forum Topic

Union Jack flags now flying on CHR!

I noticed UJ flags hanging securely to some half dozen lamp-posts ...opposite Turnham Greenthis evening.Being a somewhat international community these days ... should we be proud or concerned?

Jim Lawes ● 2d44 Comments

You have no idea who does what in the community,  Martin.  A very silly post.

Claire Moran ● 2h

Thank you Claire and Sally.I really was expecting a backlash from a faction of Hounslow's "Left wing Socialist Workers" sympathisers, so I feel quite gratified in showing my feelings.

Denis I. Fox ● 2h

We should also be following the law!Or change it through democratic means.I’d also like to know what Nigel’s Numpties are doing in praise of Great Ol’ England:Volunteering at a food bank?Picking up litter to preserve our environment?Volunteering in schools to help our children?Demanding that businesses and billionaires pay their taxes?No I thought not!Putting up a flag is so much easier than the hard graft of community development, taking responsibility for building a safe environment or just looking after your neighbour.Before we know it, just like in the USA, the flags will be replaced by images of ‘our glorious leader’, Trafalgar Square will be renamed ‘Farage Square’, huge statues of ‘Big Brother’ will appear and Friday will be renamed ‘Farageday’.It’s a slippery slope to be like Hungary, North Korea and China.“Every other country is proud of their national flag.”Yes, because they are too S*** scared to stand up and say "Enough is enough” or in the words of Margaret Thatcher “NO, NO, NO!"

Martin Weaver ● 4h

We are still in England, and it is our national flag.No reason for anyone to be concerned.Every other country is proud of their flag, so should we be! 🇬🇧🇬🇧

Sally Beaumont ● 5h

Excellent.  Delighted to see people supporting their countryand showing pride in it. What is there to be concerned about? It's exactly what other countries do.

Claire Moran ● 7h

Concrete islands are put in the centre of the High Road causing drivers to crawl and curse, pedestrians to worry which way to turn for vehicles and bikes coming every which way, motorcycles especially looking out for potholes, ignored year on year.Yet the caring council finds it necessary and finds time to take down a few national flags where every other country in the world would feel pride.Jeez...

Denis I. Fox ● 16h

Yes, they were removed.  I had these two responses, on Friday, one from the council and the other from Hounslow Highways, replying to residents who emailed me concerned about the flags and what they might represent.The council's response:"The Council will remove (and is removing) flags and graffiti placed on public land without authorisation, including on street furniture. Under the Highways Act, the Council is legally required to remove anything that has been attached to lampposts without permission. These rules are in place to help keep streets safe, and to prevent obstructions that could pose risks to pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. Residents and groups can, of course, fly flags and decorations on their own property, where this complies with the law." Hounslow Highways' response: "I can confirm that as standard protocol we remove any unapproved attachments to our assets once we are aware. This includes any political advertising and national emblems. This is not specific to any group as we removed a number of Pro Palestine flags from our assets last year and we have removed a dozen St George Crosses and Union Jacks from one road (on 3 occasions) in June. We also have one location on a footbridge over the A316 reported yesterday which has been assigned to TfL as the asset owner. "We have briefed our crews on the sensitivity of such banners and ask that they are reported through our Fix My Street system so that we can assign removals to a particular team to ensure that any emblems are removed with sensitivity and respect (despite the motivations of those installing the emblems they should still be removed respectfully). Items are returned to our depot and can be collected by the owner within 2 weeks, or they will be disposed of. A senior manager or supervisor is normally present to ensure that the items are treated with respect and to provide a liaison should there be any objections on site."We will have these items removed today."

Joanna Biddolph ● 18h

Yes I’m 100% in favour of ID cards. There are so many benefits and cost savings.

Steve Taylor ● 22h

We should have ID cards.

Nicholas Beard ● 23h

The illegal immigration mess started years ago and the whole of Europe is struggling under the weight of numbers. It’s unfortunate but as the numbers grow every country is trying to work what to do and how to stop it or at least reduce the numbers. The Rwanda style plan did show signs of reducing if not stopping the small boats as people started going to Southern Ireland but of course we don't know how it would have played it. With every sad story across Europe of an illegal immigrant raping, killing etc. it just heightens the problem. It is not racism our country along with other European countries are full. We don't have the infrastructure to manage the situation. Hotels has to stop, we should be using compounds, process documentation faster and deport where appropriate all within a 3 month timeframe. The reality is we have no idea who is in our country which is a major problem. Unfortunately this government is making matters worse with tax and spend policies so are out of control on so many fronts with no sensible vision on how to tackle so many issues. That’s the real problem.

Jayne Thorburn ● 1d

It’s not rubbish, Andrew. This mess I refer to is the flag flying rise in extreme Nationalism. Yes, the illegal immigrants were arriving in small boats before Starmer came to power but the numbers have increased radically since he moved into No 10. This despite his promise to reduce numbers. Yes, we cannot say with 100% certainty how the Rwanda scheme would have panned out but we can refer to the facts. Many aspiring boat people were interviewed in Calais during the elections and many were saying they were waiting to see if Starmer or Sunak won before making their decision. Many were extremely worried about the Rwanda scheme and weren’t going to take the risk if Sunak remained in power. Once Starmer was elected they couldn’t get here fast enough. The Rwanda scheme was 100% a deterrent before it could even be put in place. The current mess lands firmly on the desk of the current prime minister as it is of his making. The important point being that he shows no evidence of being able to fix the problem. Mrs Badenoch also gives no assurances of being able to fix it as she prefers the wishy washy route of thoroughly analysing the ECHR rules. Mr Farage gives full assurance of his ability to fix the problem and the public seemingly believe him.

Steve Taylor ● 1d

Rubbish Steve, you’re deluded if you actually believe Starmer created this mess.Small boats - they were coming over when the previous government was in power.Hotels - it was the previous lot who started using them.Brexit? Does the name Cameron ring any bells with you?Now I know exactly what you are going to resort to - saying that it was this government that scrapped the Rwanda scheme. Well it’s true, they did. You have no evidence to prove the Rwanda scheme would have been a sufficient or credible deterrent- I likewise don’t have any that it wouldn’t, but the onus isn’t on me to disprove something that never got put in.As for the ‘pull’ factors enticing people to come over to the UK - well they were all there under the previous government weren’t they?The ‘mess’ may be worse than it was, but it wasn’t created by Starmer.

Andrew Jones ● 1d

'Starmer has created this mess. These are the most troubled times since Harold Wilson and Starmer the worst Prime Minister of the 20th and 21st centuries.'Oh! How quickly they forget - The botched Referendum that led to Brexit, the partying that went on under the Blond bombsite during Covid when we were all staying indoors, the reign of Truss that nearly ruined the country's economy. Keir Starmer whilst not perfect, at least has a grip on reality, and why do you think he and the government can do in one year what your beloved Tories couldn't in 14? I'd like to see Keir Starmer tell Trump, Farage and the rest of the populist racist tw*ts to get stuffed, but I understand the requirements of proper governance and diplomacy, even if I don't like it. If all the flag waving idiots had been protesting for all the years these hotels have been being used under the Tories, that would be one thing - but they didn't. And all this nonsense about using the planning system to score points is pathetic, if there was a breach of planning law all this time, how come it is only now that these councils are getting het-up? It is notable that most - so far - are Tory councils - just trying to score points. This is racism, raw and ugly, being stoked by Farage with the Tory bandwagon jumpers joining in, think about what we just celebrated - 80 Years of the end of WW2, and then think how it started. Another little man with a huge ego blaming other races and creeds for all his country's ills, sound familiar?

Vanessa Smith ● 1d

Starmer has created this mess. These are the most troubled times since Harold Wilson and Starmer the worst Prime Minister of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Steve Taylor ● 1d

Well, I can't see any from my home today. Have all the flags been removed from CHR?

Fay Kazemi ● 1d

Sad,very sad.

Keith Iddon ● 1d

I felt the same way with my updated driver's license. Shocking.

Dave Mannisa ● 1d

These are troubled times - some of the most troubled in this country since Oswald Mosley. We need to do all we can not to let the racists win.

Dave Mannisa ● 1d

So long as the ECHR (Court of 46 unelected anonymous judges) rules over our sovereignty the scrouge entering our waters will continue to come, and our national flag will be seen in abundance all over the country.Only Reform has the means and will to leave the Strasbourg court. Farage and his quartet have the people's backing now but four years is a long time to maintain momentum.Troubled times.

Denis I. Fox ● 2d

I guess that having a flag on a driving licence makes it easier when travelling abroad for the local traffic cops to see where you come from.

Richard Greenhough ● 2d

No flag at all is needed. We never had a flag before. It was an EU ‘invention’ as was the EU flag on our number plates. Now that we are out of the EU do we really have to prove our sovereignty???  Are we so insecure that we need our I’ll fated independence shoved in our faces?

Steve Taylor ● 2d

Perhaps you would be happier emigrating, Steve ? I am sure if you went to a beach in Kent you could find a small boat to take you across the Channel, and someone to pay you for it on the French side.

Richard Greenhough ● 2d

I am not particularly a flag waber either,but what flag to you expect to have on a UK driving licence? Hving it on that is hardly shoving it in your face.

Keith Iddon ● 2d

Yes Bernard, and also our Government buildings have had the Ukraine flag.

Janice Evans ● 2d

I have to state the obvious sometimes to help you to understand, Steve.

Dave Mannisa ● 2d

Not traumatised at all. Just incensed that I am being dragged into some nationalistic patriotism to which I do not subscribe. To my mind the National flag should be hoisted for National or Royal events so that people can demonstrate their patriotism if they so wish. It shouldn’t be shoved in our faces as we go about our daily lives.

Steve Taylor ● 2d

Flags are a very British way of expressing joy and pride – they are emotive symbols which can boost local and national identities, strengthen community cohesion and mark civic pride.The government wants to see more flags flown, particularly the Union Flag, the flag of the United Kingdom. It is a symbol of national unity and pride. The government has recently issued guidance encouraging the flying of the Union Flag on all UK government buildings throughout the year, alongside other national and local flags.We are keen for local authorities and other local organisations to follow suit. We have made it easier for the Union Flag to be flown alongside other flags, so organisations can highlight their local identities, as well as their national identities, and celebrate special days or events which champion civic pride.In England, the flying of flags is treated as advertisements for the purposes of the planning regime to ensure the flags do not impact on safety or amenity. Some flags require formal consent (permission) from the local planning authority, whereas others like the Union Flag do not. The detailed controls over flag flying are set out in detailed regulations (see links below).This plain English guide provides a brief summary of the regulations so that individuals and organisations can easily understand when they can fly a flag in England without the need for consent. It incorporates the latest changes to the regulations introduced in June 2021. These regulations now allow for the Union Flag to be flown with another flag from the same flagpole, provided certain conditions are met.If you are unclear about whether consent is required for flying a flag, you should contact your local planning authority who can provide detailed advice.

Bernard Allen ● 2d

I really feel for you Steve.That must have been traumatic.

Keith Iddon ● 2d

The flags are hoisted purely to demonstrate support for the Reform Party. Nobody who is anti Farage would randomly hoist a Union Flag or St George’s Flag during these troubled times. I was absolutely incensed when my replacement Drivers Licence arrived and the wonderful EU flag had been replaced with the Union Flag.

Steve Taylor ● 2d

“ Possibly they only worry when the acccused has dark skin?”Of course they do.

Steve Taylor ● 2d

'The difference is, Denis, that it's fair to assume that these flags are going up as a show of support to the anti-immigrant racism going on in places like Epping.You just have to see or read the interviews with some of those who have suddenly decided to display these flags to confirm that.'Precisely, saw the same sudden burst of 'patriotism' displayed on a footbridge over the A316 yesterday, what I want to know is why these people so concerned with 'the safety of our women and girls' weren't just as vociferous outside New Scotland Yard the other day when yet another police officer was charged with sexual offences? Possibly they only worry when the acccused has dark skin?

Vanessa Smith ● 2d

My grandparents told me how many people flew the Union Jack to celebrate the Festival of Britain in 1951 - this was promoted by the Labour government in support of British science, technology, industrial design, architecture and the arts.Perhaps Starmer could support something similar - although he might be concerned that Attlee's hopes that it would result in a Labour victory at the forthcoming election were dashed !

Richard Greenhough ● 2d

“ it's fair to assume that these flags are going up as a show of support to the anti-immigrant racism going on in places like Epping.”Duh!  Talk about stating the bleeding obvious.

Steve Taylor ● 2d

These flags that are going up. I hope that they are made in the UK and not China.

Brian Green ● 2d

Where would we be without your late night intuitions Dave?It is rather depressing to think that those Epping folk waving their England flags, and their supporters are all racists..

Denis I. Fox ● 2d

The difference is, Denis, that it's fair to assume that these flags are going up as a show of support to the anti-immigrant racism going on in places like Epping.You just have to see or read the interviews with some of those who have suddenly decided to display these flags to confirm that.

Dave Mannisa ● 2d

Will this all escalate?Flying the Union Jack within the Chinese owned Chiswick Business Park might raise an eyebrow.Flying certain flags outside the Royal Cultural Embassy for Saudi Arabia (near Power Road) might do too.Having an Indian flag displayed in Devonshire Road ... could upset the new Pakistani restaurant.So ...no flags? We mustn't incite hatred or violence.

Jim Lawes ● 2d

Everywhere you go in Scotland flies the Saltire, similarly the Red Dragon flies in Wales, and the Union Jack is ubiquitous in protestant Northern Ireland.What is the matter with these countries, are they fiercely patriotic or something?And now English flags are popping up all over.Could be the normally reserved Englanders are thoroughly sick of being thought of less than everybody else, and are now showing their annoyance and distrust of government and councils running them.

Denis I. Fox ● 2d

The natives are restless. It seems Farage’s message is spreading like wildfire.

Steve Taylor ● 2d

Arrr, Union Jack flags flying a? Well, shiver me timbers, I'm putting a pirate flag up in that case.

Julian Pavey ● 2d

While Saltires fly all over Scotland, and have done for years, with no comment.

Anne England ● 2d

Let’s hope, ask, that the West London Queer Group will add some Rainbow flags to them and that a local 'Rejoin the EU' will add EU flags as well and then maybe Scotland and Wales flags as well to show how inclusive and loving we all are in Chiswick……...

Martin Weaver ● 2d

Depends on who put them there...

Fay Kazemi ● 2d

How awful. Concerned, for sure.

Dave Mannisa ● 2d