Solidarity Steve

Fascists have been peddling two myths on social media for over a decade: that it’s illegal to fly an England flag, and that immigrants are offended by it. Both are, of course, nonsense, but even if we take the flagmaniac fascists at face value that this is about patriotism, community, unity, and bringing people together – ask yourself one simple question: how does raising a flag fix any of the problems we’re facing?

Communities up and down this country are suffering; the majority of us are suffering and it’s so a rich minority can continue to enrich themselves at our expense. We are knee-deep into a cost-of-living crisis, and many people are drowning: wages are stretched; rents are up; energy and food costs are up; and I don’t know about you, but I am fucking fed up.

We have been absolutely battered since the 2008 banker bailout; public services are stripped to the bone; and the cost of living – no, the cost of surviving is unreachable for many.

The UK is one of the richest countries on earth, yet where is that wealth? It certainly isn’t trickling down into my town, or my back pocket.

If the flagmaniacs really wanted to help our communities, they’d swap symbolism for solidarity and put in the hard graft and help their neighbours by putting food on tables, opening warm spaces, sorting out kids’ uniforms, lifts to hospital, checking in on elderly neighbours, supporting one another, instead of dividing each other.

We are all on the same ship, and it’s sinking under the weight of the greedy, so why are we being told to blame the needy?

The flags don’t bother anyone. You can fly whatever you like. No one needs permission to love their country or their community. But let’s not pretend that flags are a plan, or are helping people. They’re not a meal, a meter top-up, or a roof. If you want unity, if you want to create pride in your community, then show up for it: cook some soup, pack a food parcel, volunteer, donate to hardship funds, help tenants fight eviction, set up a tool bank, a school uniform swap, a community garden, or a warm bank.

Do you know who does some of these things in my town? Immigrant communities: they don’t discriminate; they don’t judge – they turn up and feed the homeless.

If you asked me what pressing issues faced my town: a shortage of England flags is not on my radar; but the homeless suffering on the streets are, the kids going to school with empty bellies are, and the families worried that they’re going to get turfed out of their house, are.

Inequality is running rampant, and this focus on flags is just a huge distraction, while the rich continue to get richer and we continue to get poorer. Successive governments aren’t tackling it because politicians of all colours and creeds are bankrolled by the very same rich elite that are benefiting from this system.

The system is broken; we need justice; we need equality; we need community. We need a strong welfare state that cares for its citizens, one that provides a helping hand, rather than a boot to the face.

What our community lacks is time, hands, resources – solidarity in action. Flags don’t feed families; societies aren’t built by empty symbols; they’re built by people looking out and caring for one another.

Societies are built by solidarity.