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New Push Seeks to Reclaim St George’s Day as Inclusive English Celebration

The drive aims to shift the flag’s meaning from a flashpoint to a shared symbol.

Overview

  • Grow Social Capital’s unity campaign, backed by Billy Bragg and Sir Sajid Javid, launched Thursday with a virtual pocket museum of 50 items chosen from about 3,000 public suggestions and giant projections at Toynbee Hall in London.
  • The Government confirmed there are no plans to make St George’s Day a bank holiday, citing the established holiday calendar and the costs of adding an extra public holiday.
  • Households were warned that flying the St George’s Cross the wrong way can breach planning rules under Town and Country Planning regulations and carry fines of up to £2,500 for continuing offences.
  • Local limits on flag displays remain in force, with Oxfordshire County Council issuing a legal notice banning attachments to lampposts after last year’s Operation Raise The Colours triggered mass flag installations.
  • Public opinion is split, with British Future’s February Focaldata poll finding 39% would avoid displaying the England flag for fear of being seen as far right and 81% disliking the flag being tied to racism or intimidation.