** A long motorway drive this weekend prompted this examination of the flag phenomenon. A look at public opinion on this shows how tricky it is to navigate. I’m now back at my desk so have more scope to adapt to feedback - please keep sharing reflections.
Most importantly please forward this email to friends or colleagues who may find it useful - that way it can offer more to all of us as feedback loops grow and ideas travel. **
TL:DR?
What's Dominating: Guerrilla flag campaign spreads across UK amid anti-migrant protests - showing how populists manufacture the appearance of mass grassroots support
The Narrative Split: Progressive opportunity: Expose astroturfed campaigns vs Populist exploitation: "The people are rising - look how many flags!"
Why Today Matters: This campaign creates a perfect populist feedback loop - visible "proof" of support that recruits more supporters while trapping opponents in lose-lose responses
The Flag Wars
What Actually Happened #OperationRaisetheColours has prompted guerrilla installation of St. George's Cross and Union Jack flags on lampposts, roundabouts, and flyovers across Britain. The campaign coincides with anti-migrant protests, with far-right links documented. This creates visible "evidence" of mass support that amplifies populist messaging about representing "the real people."
How It's Being Twisted
Right populists: "See how many flags? The silent majority is finally speaking - we're everywhere!"
Left populists: "Coordinated far-right intimidation campaign masquerading as grassroots patriotism"
The Populist Trap: The campaign forces opponents into responses that prove populist points:
Remove flags → "Elites hate patriotism"
Ignore flags → "We're winning, they can't stop us"
Counter with different flags → "They prefer foreign symbols to British ones"
Progressive Pushback Options
If emphasising inclusion: "Our flag represents everyone who calls Britain home - including the diverse communities that make us stronger"
If exposing the strategy: "A few hundred coordinated installations don't represent millions of Britons - don't mistake noise for numbers"
If focusing on genuine patriotism: "Real love of country doesn't require intimidating your neighbours or vandalising public property"
Key Facts
42% of Brits see flag campaign as anti-immigrant statement
60% want to see more flags on lampposts generally!!!
Tommy Robinson and far-right activists promoting campaign
Council Flag Removals
What Actually Happened Local councils across Britain removing guerrilla-installed flags, citing safety regulations and procedural requirements. Brighton, Colchester, and other councils taking down unauthorised installations while explaining normal procedures. Each removal becomes "proof" that establishment elites oppose ordinary patriotism.
How It's Being Twisted
Right populists: "Council elites so triggered by flags they're literally tearing them down - we must be winning!"
Left populists: "Finally someone stops the racist intimidation - councils show real leadership"
The Populist Amplification Effect: Every council removal generates multiple social media posts, local news stories, and outraged responses - turning routine enforcement into evidence of a culture war. The removals become more valuable to populists than the flags themselves.
Progressive Pushback Options
If emphasising law and order: "Rules apply to everyone - even patriots need permits for public installations"
If acknowledging concerns: "We could streamline processes for community celebrations while preventing intimidation of residents"
If focusing on unintended consequences: "When people feel pressured to display symbols or face hostility, that's not patriotism - that's coercion"
The Populist Lens: Daily Decoder
A Progressive Guide to Understanding Today's News Dynamics
September 1, 2025
TODAY'S LANDSCAPE
What's Dominating: Guerrilla flag campaign spreads across UK amid anti-migrant protests - a masterclass in how populists manufacture the appearance of mass grassroots support
The Narrative Split: Progressive opportunity: Expose astroturfed campaigns vs Populist exploitation: "The people are rising - look how many flags!"
Why Today Matters: This campaign creates a perfect populist feedback loop - visible "proof" of support that recruits more supporters while trapping opponents in lose-lose responses
STORY 1: The Flag Wars
What Actually Happened #OperationRaisetheColours has prompted guerrilla installation of St. George's Cross and Union Jack flags on lampposts, roundabouts, and flyovers across Britain. The campaign coincides with anti-migrant protests, with far-right links documented. This creates visible "evidence" of mass support that amplifies populist messaging about representing "the real people."
How It's Being Twisted
Right populists: "See how many flags? The silent majority is finally speaking - we're everywhere!"
Left populists: "Coordinated far-right intimidation campaign masquerading as grassroots patriotism"
The Populist Trap: The campaign's genius lies in forcing opponents into responses that prove populist points:
Remove flags → "Elites hate patriotism"
Ignore flags → "We're winning, they can't stop us"
Counter with different flags → "They prefer foreign symbols to British ones"
Progressive Pushback Options
If emphasizing inclusion: "Our flag represents everyone who calls Britain home - including the diverse communities that make us stronger"
If exposing the strategy: "A few hundred coordinated installations don't represent millions of Britons - don't mistake noise for numbers"
If focusing on genuine patriotism: "Real love of country doesn't require intimidating your neighbors or vandalizing public property"
Key Facts
42% of Brits see flag campaign as anti-immigrant statement
60% want to see more flags on lampposts generally
Tommy Robinson and far-right activists promoting campaign
Some organizers have documented links to extremist groups
STORY 2: Council Flag Removals
What Actually Happened Local councils across Britain removing guerrilla-installed flags, citing safety regulations and procedural requirements. Brighton, Colchester, and other councils taking down unauthorized installations while explaining normal procedures. Each removal becomes "proof" that establishment elites oppose ordinary patriotism.
How It's Being Twisted
Right populists: "Council elites so triggered by flags they're literally tearing them down - we must be winning!"
Left populists: "Finally someone stops the racist intimidation - councils show real leadership"
The Populist Amplification Effect: Every council removal generates multiple social media posts, local news stories, and outraged responses - turning routine enforcement into evidence of a culture war. The removals become more valuable to populists than the flags themselves.
Progressive Pushback Options
If emphasizing law and order: "Rules apply to everyone - even patriots need permits for public installations"
If acknowledging concerns: "We could streamline processes for community celebrations while preventing intimidation of residents"
If focusing on unintended consequences: "When people feel pressured to display symbols or face hostility, that's not patriotism - that's coercion"
Key Facts
Multiple councils following standard removal procedures for unauthorized installations
Safety concerns include traffic visibility and structural integrity
Some flag installers threatening residents who refuse participation
Birmingham Green Party councillor calls installations 'intimidatory'
SEEING THE OTHER POINT OF VIEW
Flag Flying
What They're Really Feeling: Split motivations - 41% believe flag raisers are acting out of pride in Britain and support for the flag, while 42% see it as a political statement against immigrants
The Legitimate Concern: Most Britons (58%) want to see more flags in public spaces - there's genuine appetite for visible patriotism beyond extremist organizing
Address It By: Creating inclusive patriotic spaces that channel the 58% who want more flags into positive community celebrations rather than guerrilla campaigns
Flag Removal
What They're Really Feeling: Deep mistrust of authority - 70% of Reform voters think councils remove flags out of political opposition rather than safety concerns
The Legitimate Concern: Only 14% think councils should remove flags without permission - most people see bureaucratic barriers to patriotic expression as excessive
Address It By: Focus on the 49% who support removal only for safety risks - transparent communication about genuine safety concerns while acknowledging that most removals look political to half the population
The Polling Reality: 49% say neighbour's flags make no difference to them - the culture war is louder than actual community divisions, but Reform voters (60-63%) do judge neighbours positively for flag display.
Remember: This campaign demonstrates classic populist strategy - create visible "proof" of mass support through coordinated action, then use any opposition response to validate claims about elite persecution. The flags aren't the real message - the reactions to them are.
The Uncomfortable Truth: Whatever we think of their politics, flag campaigners are getting out and campaigning - they also have significant public sympathy on this issue. Data from More in Common.
The Winner: TikTok "Flag Reality Check"
The Angle: "Everyone's talking about flag invasion - so I actually counted what's in my area"
The Execution:
Creator maps their neighbourhood systematically, marking every flag visible
Discovers existing flags everywhere: schools (12), pubs (8), government buildings (6), resident homes (23)
Finds guerrilla campaign added just 4 flags to area that already had 49
Key insight: "The 'invasion' is 4 flags. But look where they put them..."
Shows how bridge and highway flags create maximum visibility - thousands of drivers see each one daily
Reveals the strategy: "10 flags on residential streets = 50 people see them. 4 flags on motorway bridges = 20,000 people see them"
For Flag Campaign:
Community ownership: "Neighbourhoods should decide together what goes up in their area"
Practical focus: "Let's talk about what works - not who's allowed to put what where"
Inclusive celebration: "There's room for everyone's pride when we plan together"
For Council Removals:
Respecting residents: "Councils serve everyone - including people who feel intimidated by sudden changes"
Common sense approach: "Most removals happen when things go wrong - paint on roads, blocked sight lines"
Community process: "Local decisions work best when locals are actually involved"
Complexity Made Simple:
Don't say: "Unauthorised installations require municipal permits under planning regulations"
Do say: "Community celebrations work better when the community plans them together"
Don't say: "Safety compliance necessitates regulatory enforcement procedures"
Do say: "When flags block traffic lights or fall into roads, someone has to act"
Tomorrow: Yvette Cooper announces tighter asylum family reunion rules in Commons - expect "Labour gets tough on migration" vs "cruel separation of families" narratives
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