Red, white and boo – Can Labour reclaim the flag?

The Bunker – News without the nonsense

Podmasters

News, Government, Politics, Society & Culture

4.6 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 23 April 2024

⏱️ 29 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The Union Jack represents many things for many people, linked to historical pride – but also shame. And, unfortunately, it’s become somewhat synonymous with the political Right. So what is Labour’s relationship with the flag? Andrew Harrison asks The People's Flag and the Union Jack: An Alternative History of Britain and the Labour Party co-author Gerry Hassan if Labour can reclaim Britishness. • “I don’t think anyone in the UK can be completely objective about the Union Jack. Flags are things we have emotional connections with. The Union Jack’s meaning has evolved over centuries.” – Gerry Hassan • “Lots of people say we have to either identify and feel pride in it, or loathe it – but it’s important we allow for a polarity of meanings.” – Gerry Hassan • “In our current age of culture wars, symbols really matter. And symbols like national flags are highly contested.” – Gerry Hassan • “Flags are part of who we are as human beings.” – Gerry Hassan Buy The People's Flag and the Union Jack: An Alternative History of Britain and the Labour Party through our affiliate bookshop and you’ll help fund The Bunker by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too. We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit. Support us on Patreon Written and presented by Podmasters Group Editor Andrew Harrison. Producer: Eliza Davis Beard. Audio editor: Jade Bailey. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson and artwork by James Parrett. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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1:13.4	Today, Labour's endless issues with the flag.
1:17.0	In the run-up to the election, Kia Starmas Party has been a lot less shy of demonstrating
1:21.5	its patriotism by adorning campaign literature with the
1:24.7	Union Jack than its predecessor regime. And by the way it's perfectly okay to say
1:29.2	Union Jack and not Union Flag, the Flag Institute says the idea that it should only be described as a Union
1:34.9	Jack when it's flown from the Bowers of Wars of Wars is a relatively recent idea so I'll be sticking with
1:39.2	the Union Jack throughout this podcast. Some members of the Labour left are unhappy with this new flag-centric
1:44.7	look for labour. In March meetings of the parties, black, Asian and minority ethnic groups said
1:49.2	they were uncomfortable with leaflets though were heavy on the red, white and blue. Some claim that activists were refusing to deliver the materials,
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