In recent weeks Union Flags and St George’s Flags have appeared across the district, flying from lampposts and painted on roundabouts. Their sudden prominence has reignited public debate – but the real question is not simply whether flags should fly; it’s about what those flags are being used to say.
The debate is often framed as patriotism versus provocation. In truth, it can be both: a source of national and local pride, and a symbol of exclusion. Everything depends on intent, context, and the story they are made to tell.
To some, debates about flags may seem a distraction from serious governance. In reality, they matter – but the conversation has largely missed the point. Flying the St George’s Flag should not be controversial. Yet for decades it has been co-opted by fringe, exclusionary groups, making it politically charged at a time when communities are wrestling with identity in an increasingly globalised world. The flag needs rehabilitation – a return to the mainstream – but that won’t be achieved by mass displays on lampposts or hastily painted roundabouts.
Those who install these flags, and those who claim removing them is unpatriotic, miss the point entirely. Overt flag-waving is simply not an English custom, except on special occasions. Traditional English culture values understatement. It’s not that we are embarrassed to be English – it’s that historically, we have not felt the need to advertise it.
Many point towards the United States and say they fly their flag everywhere – but those who yearn for a distinct English identity will not achieve it by importing norms wholesale from overseas.
And really, what could be more English than a grey council official removing an unauthorised flag while residents look out and tut quietly? We are, after all, a nation of rules and order.
Meanwhile, Fenland District Council remains reluctant to officially recognise the Fenland Tiger flag – a red heraldic tiger on a central yellow stripe, flanked by two blue stripes, designed by local resident John Bowman. Despite support from two district councils and three MPs, the council’s endorsement is essential for recognition from the Flag Institute. Recognition can raise a district’s profile and deliver tangible economic and societal benefits; Cornwall, the Black Country and Lincolnshire show how regional symbols can matter.
The Fen Tiger flag celebrates the region’s history, immortalising the early 19th-century Fen Tigers who resisted the draining of the Fens and defended traditional ways of life. Rejecting the flag risks portraying Fenland District as backward, resistant to innovation and modernity – a deeply ironic outcome. Yet the flag embodies independence, identity and resilience – qualities this region could usefully rediscover, especially as the Fens face modern threats from flooding and climate vulnerability.
The flag could help showcase Fenland’s history, resilience and character in a way no marketing campaign can. A flag is just a flag – but used thoughtfully it can give people something to rally around.
Enough of the outrage about flags. Fenland has bigger challenges to face. Let’s just keep calm and carry on.
