I sometimes worry that A Clockwork Orange is coming true and those lads will be police soon.
Warren Clarke died penniless after lots of bad investments.
The scene where they try to drown McDowells character, just seemed to go on and on and on.
The last thing I remember seeing Clarke in was Red Riding (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Riding). And he was still a cracking performer. (Quite a bleak series mind you - beautiful, and disturbing).
“If the UK were subject to an IMF programme, the spending cuts imposed as a condition would be some £100bn-£150bn, perhaps more. That puts a bit of context on the government's recent failed attempts to cut spending by £3bn.”
This follows a pretty heavyweight Telegraph report - citing senior economists, ex BoE bigwigs - that the UK is headed for IMF bailout territory
Brace
Scaremongering nonsense . Especially as economic growth is likely to be better than expected over the next few months which means Reeves will have less money to find .
Is the government intending on spending loads more money to achieve a bit of growth?
The data so far in August was better than expected . There’s been a strong recovery since April .
Inflation is surging, unemployment is rising, growth is close to zero, the government is the sixth most indebted developed nation on earth
The deficit is huge and growing, public spending is outwith control, the pensions bill is crippling, we have millions of working age people on benefits, the tax burden is the heaviest in seventy years, councils are sliding into bankruptcy, real wages have barely risen in two decades, business investment is stagnant, productivity is among the worst in the OECD, foreign capital and private wealth is fleeing to safer, more dynamic economies, destroying our tax base, even as borrowing costs are through the roof: 30-year gilt yields have surged past 5.6 %, the highest since 1998, and 10-year yields are hovering at an eye watering, crisis-signalling 4.7 %, so that every pound we borrow moves us closer to the cliff edge marked "Greece or Argentina?". Meanwhile our Chancellor literally weeps in parliament because she knows she cannot do the job and we are headed for disaster
But "the data in August was better than expected"
Stop being so miserable! The last GDP data was better than expected and the next one is likely to be better than expected . The UK is not Greece or Argentina .
heading there ever faster though
I wish we were Argentina. They just had greater GDP growth than China.
Growth from a low base isn't necessarily where you want to live. And inflation is around 20%!
Argentina had inflation of 266% a year ago so are actually getting it under control.
They are, yes. Good for them. Still don't think it's the most attractive place to live in the world, economically speaking.
Well clearly it isn’t but it’s an improving picture and they smashed the all blacks yesterday too, Vamos Pumas.
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
There is a house just along from me that has flown the English flag, the Lincolnshire flag* and (since 2022) the Ukraine flag continuously for as long as I have lived here. No one considers the owners racist or xenophobic and nor should they.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
Can we bring back the stocks.? I have a strong desire to pelt the perpetrators of the above with expired comestibles. While wearing a tricorn hat.
Perhaps this is a resurgence of my innate Britishness?
I have a more appropriate punishment, get them to write a 1,000 word report on St George, particularly his origins and the number of times he visited the UK, and how he stole the job of a native born Brit, bring back St Edmund.
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
There is a house just along from me that has flown the English flag, the Lincolnshire flag* and (since 2022) the Ukraine flag continuously for as long as I have lived here. No one considers the owners racist or xenophobic and nor should they.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
I don’t understand the need to fly flags on non official buildings . Sorry I just don’t get it . You can accuse me of stereotyping but the English flag has unfortunately been hijacked .
I sometimes worry that A Clockwork Orange is coming true and those lads will be police soon.
Warren Clarke died penniless after lots of bad investments.
The scene where they try to drown McDowells character, just seemed to go on and on and on.
The last thing I remember seeing Clarke in was Red Riding (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Riding). And he was still a cracking performer. (Quite a bleak series mind you - beautiful, and disturbing).
I watched all three recently on Netflix. One of the bleakest things I’ve ever seen.
I’m currently watching all of Dalziel and Pascoe. He’s good in that too.
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
There is a house just along from me that has flown the English flag, the Lincolnshire flag* and (since 2022) the Ukraine flag continuously for as long as I have lived here. No one considers the owners racist or xenophobic and nor should they.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
There is a house just along from me that has flown the English flag, the Lincolnshire flag* and (since 2022) the Ukraine flag continuously for as long as I have lived here. No one considers the owners racist or xenophobic and nor should they.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
We fly the great bustard in Wiltshire
That’s possibly worse than the Northumberland flag and that’s a pretty low bar. Durham flag is cool.
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
There is a house just along from me that has flown the English flag, the Lincolnshire flag* and (since 2022) the Ukraine flag continuously for as long as I have lived here. No one considers the owners racist or xenophobic and nor should they.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
We fly the great bustard in Wiltshire
That’s possibly worse than the Northumberland flag and that’s a pretty low bar. Durham flag is cool.
The Northumberland flag is from the Percy coat of arms so legit. I actually saw a Hampshire flag driving through Farnborough this morning .
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
There is a house just along from me that has flown the English flag, the Lincolnshire flag* and (since 2022) the Ukraine flag continuously for as long as I have lived here. No one considers the owners racist or xenophobic and nor should they.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
We fly the great bustard in Wiltshire
That’s possibly worse than the Northumberland flag and that’s a pretty low bar. Durham flag is cool.
Northumberland is great. It's a bit alien so it gives you the sense it's quite distinct from the rest of England.
Most of these 'flaggers' seem to be absolute roasters. If that makes me a stereotyper, so be it.
I have the cross of St George cufflinks, I think it might blow the minds of the flaggers.
So you celebrate the fictional actions of a fictional knight who killed fictional endangered wildlife without a license, no safety case, no hi-viz, no statements completed on the effect of his actions on the environment, equality or community relations?
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
There is a house just along from me that has flown the English flag, the Lincolnshire flag* and (since 2022) the Ukraine flag continuously for as long as I have lived here. No one considers the owners racist or xenophobic and nor should they.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
I don’t understand the need to fly flags on non official buildings . Sorry I just don’t get it . You can accuse me of stereotyping but the English flag has unfortunately been hijacked .
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
There is a house just along from me that has flown the English flag, the Lincolnshire flag* and (since 2022) the Ukraine flag continuously for as long as I have lived here. No one considers the owners racist or xenophobic and nor should they.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
We fly the great bustard in Wiltshire
That’s possibly worse than the Northumberland flag and that’s a pretty low bar. Durham flag is cool.
Northumberland is great. It's a bit alien so it gives you the sense it's quite distinct from the rest of England.
You mean the rest of England is quite distinct from it ...
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
There is a house just along from me that has flown the English flag, the Lincolnshire flag* and (since 2022) the Ukraine flag continuously for as long as I have lived here. No one considers the owners racist or xenophobic and nor should they.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
We fly the great bustard in Wiltshire
That’s possibly worse than the Northumberland flag and that’s a pretty low bar. Durham flag is cool.
Northumberland is great. It's a bit alien so it gives you the sense it's quite distinct from the rest of England.
I’m critiquing the flag not the county. Sorry if that’s confusing,
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
There is a house just along from me that has flown the English flag, the Lincolnshire flag* and (since 2022) the Ukraine flag continuously for as long as I have lived here. No one considers the owners racist or xenophobic and nor should they.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
We fly the great bustard in Wiltshire
That’s possibly worse than the Northumberland flag and that’s a pretty low bar. Durham flag is cool.
Northumberland is great. It's a bit alien so it gives you the sense it's quite distinct from the rest of England.
There was a time when the ancient kingdom of Northumbria included Dumfries & Galloway, The Borders, Edinburgh and all the Lothians, and the Bo'ness and Blackness part of what is today the Falkirk region.
The Government would save about £40bn (year one) if the Bank of England stopped paying commercial banks interest on their QE holdings. It's absolutely loony for a central bank to give banks a load of money and than pay them interest on it.
The 'argument' I've heard for not stopping this muppetry is that it 'smacks of default' and would spook investors.
But as long as the spend is not reassigned, I think it would actually be seen as a responsible and serious move. The Government would effectively not be borrowing that £40bn.
The commercial banks give the BoE assets in return. It’s not “free money” for the banks but is designed to ensure liquidity in the system
Well, if it's not free money, and is given in exchange for assets, there should be no objection to it stopping, and those assets being retained, should there?
The interest is paid because it is owed.
The bank can stop the programme if it doesn’t need to support liquidity in the banking system
So that's a change of story from it being 'in exchange for assets' then isn't it?
It is not owed, because no other central bank pays interests on its own QE the way ours does.
I think you are confused. There are multiple different programmes:
1. One in which the commercial banks buy bonds from the Bank of England. In return they give the Bank of England assets. This is designed to promote liquidity (the assets transferred by the commercial banks are real assets but are illiquid). But the assets exist and interest should be paid on the bonds that are used to pay for them
2. One in which the Treasury creates new bonds and sells them to the market for cash (this is the normal debt management process). Once again they are real debt and interest should be paid on them.
What you are getting muddled up with is wheee the Bank of England buys bonds direct from the Treasury. This is basically printing money. It’s meaningless whether interest is paid these bonds or not - any profits the bank makes are just returned to the Treasury.
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
There is a house just along from me that has flown the English flag, the Lincolnshire flag* and (since 2022) the Ukraine flag continuously for as long as I have lived here. No one considers the owners racist or xenophobic and nor should they.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
I don’t understand the need to fly flags on non official buildings . Sorry I just don’t get it . You can accuse me of stereotyping but the English flag has unfortunately been hijacked .
John Harris of the Graun (who wrote some thoughtful stuff pre Brexit, for instance) has been considering the flags.
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
There is a house just along from me that has flown the English flag, the Lincolnshire flag* and (since 2022) the Ukraine flag continuously for as long as I have lived here. No one considers the owners racist or xenophobic and nor should they.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
I don’t understand the need to fly flags on non official buildings . Sorry I just don’t get it . You can accuse me of stereotyping but the English flag has unfortunately been hijacked .
Why do you find the English flag so offensive?
I don’t find it offensive , it’s a nice flag . The problem is those who have hijacked it .
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
There is a house just along from me that has flown the English flag, the Lincolnshire flag* and (since 2022) the Ukraine flag continuously for as long as I have lived here. No one considers the owners racist or xenophobic and nor should they.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
We fly the great bustard in Wiltshire
That’s possibly worse than the Northumberland flag and that’s a pretty low bar. Durham flag is cool.
Northumberland is great. It's a bit alien so it gives you the sense it's quite distinct from the rest of England.
I’m critiquing the flag not the county. Sorry if that’s confusing,
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
There is a house just along from me that has flown the English flag, the Lincolnshire flag* and (since 2022) the Ukraine flag continuously for as long as I have lived here. No one considers the owners racist or xenophobic and nor should they.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
We fly the great bustard in Wiltshire
I’d give that 100 likes if I could (I’m Wiltshire through and through, as far back as matters). The green grass and the white chalk, and the magnificent (Russian) bustard ruling over all…
JD Vance: "This is how wars ultimately get settled. If you go back to World War 2, if you go back to every major conflict in human history, they all end with some kind of negotiation." https://x.com/atrupar/status/1959620851369701496
We all recall FDR boasting of his great relationship with Hitler.
"Unconditional surrender" is not usually classified as a negotiation.
That appears to be the menu for the Bull at Corbridge. Dyvels used to be better before it flooded. 30 years ago you could get under the counter scrumpy there. Now it's full of rugger buggers.
PS. Kylie Minogue drank at the Angel when in Corbridge. You can't argue with that.
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
There is a house just along from me that has flown the English flag, the Lincolnshire flag* and (since 2022) the Ukraine flag continuously for as long as I have lived here. No one considers the owners racist or xenophobic and nor should they.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
I don’t understand the need to fly flags on non official buildings . Sorry I just don’t get it . You can accuse me of stereotyping but the English flag has unfortunately been hijacked .
Again a posting that says far more about you than about those you are criticising.
It's Twatto McPratto exhibiting the depth of his knowledge of the world.
Vance and his boss, Trump, both have, AIUI, good American degrees.
And we think we’ve problems with our universities.
Most US colleges are fiercely woke and hate Trump and Vance.
Vance is more of an intellectual than Trump though and better able to articulate his America First, anti globalisation, anti woke and socially conservative views
Sounds as though you have some sympathy with the mendacious piece of work ?
Do you really believe this sort of thing, from an intelligent man, is an honest assessment ?
Q: "What makes you think President Putin is serious about peace?"
Vance: "What they have conceded is the recognition that Ukraine will have territorial integrity after the war. They've recognized that they're not gonna be able to install a puppet regime in Kyiv. And...they've acknowledged that there is going to be some security guarantee to the territorial integrity of Ukraine...[Trump's] not trying to focus on every nitpicky detail of how this thing started 3.5 years ago." https://x.com/BulwarkOnline/status/1959612172733907196
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
There is a house just along from me that has flown the English flag, the Lincolnshire flag* and (since 2022) the Ukraine flag continuously for as long as I have lived here. No one considers the owners racist or xenophobic and nor should they.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
I don’t understand the need to fly flags on non official buildings . Sorry I just don’t get it . You can accuse me of stereotyping but the English flag has unfortunately been hijacked .
Again a posting that says far more about you than about those you are criticising.
The flag is being hijacked by the left's characterisation of it
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
Sadly you havent cottoned on to the fact that you aren't "people".
I sometimes worry that A Clockwork Orange is coming true and those lads will be police soon.
Warren Clarke died penniless after lots of bad investments.
The scene where they try to drown McDowells character, just seemed to go on and on and on.
The last thing I remember seeing Clarke in was Red Riding (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Riding). And he was still a cracking performer. (Quite a bleak series mind you - beautiful, and disturbing).
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
There is a house just along from me that has flown the English flag, the Lincolnshire flag* and (since 2022) the Ukraine flag continuously for as long as I have lived here. No one considers the owners racist or xenophobic and nor should they.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
I don’t understand the need to fly flags on non official buildings . Sorry I just don’t get it . You can accuse me of stereotyping but the English flag has unfortunately been hijacked .
Why do you find the English flag so offensive?
I don’t find it offensive , it’s a nice flag . The problem is those who have hijacked it .
They’re attempting to hijack it, as hooligans have done for decades, but they are only successful if you let them be.
The St George cross is a reasonable flag, more interesting than most tricolores but not as good as the Union flag, which is one of the best and most iconic designs in the world. I’m always filled with pride when I see French youth wearing fashion items with the good old British flag on them.
But it’s the English one that will continue to be contested. I think it would look better if it were adjusted to the Nordic off-centre horizontal design. Would place us more accurately in our geo-climatic milieu.
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
There is a house just along from me that has flown the English flag, the Lincolnshire flag* and (since 2022) the Ukraine flag continuously for as long as I have lived here. No one considers the owners racist or xenophobic and nor should they.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
We fly the great bustard in Wiltshire
That’s possibly worse than the Northumberland flag and that’s a pretty low bar. Durham flag is cool.
Northumberland is great. It's a bit alien so it gives you the sense it's quite distinct from the rest of England.
I’m critiquing the flag not the county. Sorry if that’s confusing,
I meant the flag too. Give me that over Lincolnshire anyday.
I would like to have a 2 hour debate on Pantone 280 or Pantone 300 if anyone is up for it.
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
There is a house just along from me that has flown the English flag, the Lincolnshire flag* and (since 2022) the Ukraine flag continuously for as long as I have lived here. No one considers the owners racist or xenophobic and nor should they.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
We fly the great bustard in Wiltshire
I’d give that 100 likes if I could (I’m Wiltshire through and through, as far back as matters). The green grass and the white chalk, and the magnificent (Russian) bustard ruling over all…
The Kent and Essex, and Staffordshire too, flags look like proper flags you could follow into battle. Isle of Wight and South Yorkshire look like water company logos.
That appears to be the menu for the Bull at Corbridge. Dyvels used to be better before it flooded. 30 years ago you could get under the counter scrumpy there. Now it's full of rugger buggers.
PS. Kylie Minogue drank at the Angel when in Corbridge. You can't argue with that.
Ha ha, what a twit I am.
Got lunch there on Thursday with brother and sister in law and my wife.
That appears to be the menu for the Bull at Corbridge. Dyvels used to be better before it flooded. 30 years ago you could get under the counter scrumpy there. Now it's full of rugger buggers.
PS. Kylie Minogue drank at the Angel when in Corbridge. You can't argue with that.
Ha ha, what a twit I am.
Got lunch there on Thursday with brother and sister in law and my wife.
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
There is a house just along from me that has flown the English flag, the Lincolnshire flag* and (since 2022) the Ukraine flag continuously for as long as I have lived here. No one considers the owners racist or xenophobic and nor should they.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
I don’t understand the need to fly flags on non official buildings . Sorry I just don’t get it . You can accuse me of stereotyping but the English flag has unfortunately been hijacked .
Why do you find the English flag so offensive?
I don’t find it offensive , it’s a nice flag . The problem is those who have hijacked it .
They’re attempting to hijack it, as hooligans have done for decades, but they are only successful if you let them be.
The St George cross is a reasonable flag, more interesting than most tricolores but not as good as the Union flag, which is one of the best and most iconic designs in the world. I’m always filled with pride when I see French youth wearing fashion items with the good old British flag on them.
But it’s the English one that will continue to be contested. I think it would look better if it were adjusted to the Nordic off-centre horizontal design. Would place us more accurately in our geo-climatic milieu.
Maisons Du Monde used to have a lot of things in the store with the Union Jack . It’s a nice flag , shame about the National Anthem which is as dull as dishwater . It needs to be more uplifting , I love the Italian one .
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
There is a house just along from me that has flown the English flag, the Lincolnshire flag* and (since 2022) the Ukraine flag continuously for as long as I have lived here. No one considers the owners racist or xenophobic and nor should they.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
We fly the great bustard in Wiltshire
That’s possibly worse than the Northumberland flag and that’s a pretty low bar. Durham flag is cool.
Northumberland is great. It's a bit alien so it gives you the sense it's quite distinct from the rest of England.
I’m critiquing the flag not the county. Sorry if that’s confusing,
I meant the flag too. Give me that over Lincolnshire anyday.
I would like to have a 2 hour debate on Pantone 280 or Pantone 300 if anyone is up for it.
I remember when working on painted interior trim many years ago Pantone references. I would say ‘happy days’ but I hated that job and the company.
I love Northumberland. Spend a lot of time there. It’s a stunning county full of lovely places. It also has Ashington.
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
There is a house just along from me that has flown the English flag, the Lincolnshire flag* and (since 2022) the Ukraine flag continuously for as long as I have lived here. No one considers the owners racist or xenophobic and nor should they.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
We fly the great bustard in Wiltshire
That’s possibly worse than the Northumberland flag and that’s a pretty low bar. Durham flag is cool.
Northumberland is great. It's a bit alien so it gives you the sense it's quite distinct from the rest of England.
I’m critiquing the flag not the county. Sorry if that’s confusing,
On the other hand, it is properly historic, and it has the simplicity that proper flags ought to have. (I quite like Surrey's for the same sort of reason.) A lot of English county flags were designed in the last twenty years, and it really shows. Way too fiddly and a bit too blatant in their show-not-hint representations of their counties.
That appears to be the menu for the Bull at Corbridge. Dyvels used to be better before it flooded. 30 years ago you could get under the counter scrumpy there. Now it's full of rugger buggers.
PS. Kylie Minogue drank at the Angel when in Corbridge. You can't argue with that.
Ha ha, what a twit I am.
Got lunch there on Thursday with brother and sister in law and my wife.
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
There is a house just along from me that has flown the English flag, the Lincolnshire flag* and (since 2022) the Ukraine flag continuously for as long as I have lived here. No one considers the owners racist or xenophobic and nor should they.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
I don’t understand the need to fly flags on non official buildings . Sorry I just don’t get it . You can accuse me of stereotyping but the English flag has unfortunately been hijacked .
Why do you find the English flag so offensive?
I don’t find it offensive , it’s a nice flag . The problem is those who have hijacked it .
They’re attempting to hijack it, as hooligans have done for decades, but they are only successful if you let them be.
The St George cross is a reasonable flag, more interesting than most tricolores but not as good as the Union flag, which is one of the best and most iconic designs in the world. I’m always filled with pride when I see French youth wearing fashion items with the good old British flag on them.
But it’s the English one that will continue to be contested. I think it would look better if it were adjusted to the Nordic off-centre horizontal design. Would place us more accurately in our geo-climatic milieu.
Flying St George's cross just feels distinctly un-English to me. I thought the English were supposed to have the kind of self-confidence which means you don't need to make such gestures.
The Government would save about £40bn (year one) if the Bank of England stopped paying commercial banks interest on their QE holdings. It's absolutely loony for a central bank to give banks a load of money and than pay them interest on it.
The 'argument' I've heard for not stopping this muppetry is that it 'smacks of default' and would spook investors.
But as long as the spend is not reassigned, I think it would actually be seen as a responsible and serious move. The Government would effectively not be borrowing that £40bn.
The commercial banks give the BoE assets in return. It’s not “free money” for the banks but is designed to ensure liquidity in the system
Well, if it's not free money, and is given in exchange for assets, there should be no objection to it stopping, and those assets being retained, should there?
The interest is paid because it is owed.
The bank can stop the programme if it doesn’t need to support liquidity in the banking system
So that's a change of story from it being 'in exchange for assets' then isn't it?
It is not owed, because no other central bank pays interests on its own QE the way ours does.
I think you are confused. There are multiple different programmes:
1. One in which the commercial banks buy bonds from the Bank of England. In return they give the Bank of England assets. This is designed to promote liquidity (the assets transferred by the commercial banks are real assets but are illiquid). But the assets exist and interest should be paid on the bonds that are used to pay for them
2. One in which the Treasury creates new bonds and sells them to the market for cash (this is the normal debt management process). Once again they are real debt and interest should be paid on them.
What you are getting muddled up with is wheee the Bank of England buys bonds direct from the Treasury. This is basically printing money. It’s meaningless whether interest is paid these bonds or not - any profits the bank makes are just returned to the Treasury.
Right, so you mistook my meaning, though it was really expressed quite clearly, gave me an irrelevant answer as a result, and it's apparently me who was confused? Ok hun.
I was similarly 'confused' this morning when Bondygoogoo tried to tell me that almost all Pakistani asylum seekers got sent home, and it turned out 57% of them were granted asylum, but silly confused me didn't realise he was averaging out the whole of South Asia.
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
There is a house just along from me that has flown the English flag, the Lincolnshire flag* and (since 2022) the Ukraine flag continuously for as long as I have lived here. No one considers the owners racist or xenophobic and nor should they.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
I don’t understand the need to fly flags on non official buildings . Sorry I just don’t get it . You can accuse me of stereotyping but the English flag has unfortunately been hijacked .
Why do you find the English flag so offensive?
I don’t find it offensive , it’s a nice flag . The problem is those who have hijacked it .
They’re attempting to hijack it, as hooligans have done for decades, but they are only successful if you let them be.
The St George cross is a reasonable flag, more interesting than most tricolores but not as good as the Union flag, which is one of the best and most iconic designs in the world. I’m always filled with pride when I see French youth wearing fashion items with the good old British flag on them.
But it’s the English one that will continue to be contested. I think it would look better if it were adjusted to the Nordic off-centre horizontal design. Would place us more accurately in our geo-climatic milieu.
Flying St George's cross just feels distinctly un-English to me. I thought the English were supposed to have the kind of self-confidence which means you don't need to make such gestures.
Interesting. So are you claiming the Scots have an inferiority complex?
York. I thought it was one of those genteel slightly Hyacinth Bouquet meets Alan Bennett Yorkshire towns like Wetherby or Harrogate. But no, from this weekend’s evidence it’s very much a city of “the people”.
Tattier than its sibling Canterbury, most surprisingly. And humming with 21st century chain nightlife. Within a 5 minute walk of my Airbnb there’s a Slug & Lettuce, O’Neills, Yates’s wine lodge, and a Pitcher & Piano. Brands I thought had died a decade or more ago. Not to mention “Lil’s on the waterfront”, “plonkers”, “the stone roses bar”, “Valhalla” and a whole panoply of other venues, filled with the dolled up and lagered up party animals of North Yorkshire. Who’d have thought it?
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
There is a house just along from me that has flown the English flag, the Lincolnshire flag* and (since 2022) the Ukraine flag continuously for as long as I have lived here. No one considers the owners racist or xenophobic and nor should they.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
I don’t understand the need to fly flags on non official buildings . Sorry I just don’t get it . You can accuse me of stereotyping but the English flag has unfortunately been hijacked .
Again a posting that says far more about you than about those you are criticising.
The flag is being hijacked by the left's characterisation of it
It really isn't. The fact that the friends of Tommy Ten Names drape the flag and claim to own it demeans the national pride it should represent.
As you know I am disgusting centrist scumbag filth, but back in the 1980s I was a big backer of buying British. If there was a British option, or a politically British option I would chose it over the foreign alternative. I wore a 4x2 Union flag under the bumper of my (Cologne made) Capri, I was backing Britain. I was that patriotic (sorry that much of a racially unaware wanker).
Flying the flag, particularly the flag of St George means different things to different people these days, and I don't want to associate myself with people painting red crosses on mini roundabouts and harassing asylum seekers in their hotels with the flag of St George to demonstrate their targets don't belong.
Mind you, I'd still be quite content to drive a Mini with Union flag tail lights, it tells a different story.
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
That appears to be the menu for the Bull at Corbridge. Dyvels used to be better before it flooded. 30 years ago you could get under the counter scrumpy there. Now it's full of rugger buggers.
PS. Kylie Minogue drank at the Angel when in Corbridge. You can't argue with that.
Ha ha, what a twit I am.
Got lunch there on Thursday with brother and sister in law and my wife.
York. I thought it was one of those genteel slightly Hyacinth Bouquet meets Alan Bennett Yorkshire towns like Wetherby or Harrogate. But no, from this weekend’s evidence it’s very much a city of “the people”.
Tattier than its sibling Canterbury, most surprisingly. And humming with 21st century chain nightlife. Within a 5 minute walk of my Airbnb there’s a Slug & Lettuce, O’Neills, Yates’s wine lodge, and a Pitcher & Piano. Brands I thought had died a decade or more ago. Not to mention “Lil’s on the waterfront”, “plonkers”, “the stone roses bar”, “Valhalla” and a whole panoply of other venues, filled with the dolled up and lagered up party animals of North Yorkshire. Who’d have thought it?
York is good, lots to do daytime too. Lots of great Roman stuff in the museum.
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
There is a house just along from me that has flown the English flag, the Lincolnshire flag* and (since 2022) the Ukraine flag continuously for as long as I have lived here. No one considers the owners racist or xenophobic and nor should they.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
I don’t understand the need to fly flags on non official buildings . Sorry I just don’t get it . You can accuse me of stereotyping but the English flag has unfortunately been hijacked .
Why do you find the English flag so offensive?
I don’t find it offensive , it’s a nice flag . The problem is those who have hijacked it .
They’re attempting to hijack it, as hooligans have done for decades, but they are only successful if you let them be.
The St George cross is a reasonable flag, more interesting than most tricolores but not as good as the Union flag, which is one of the best and most iconic designs in the world. I’m always filled with pride when I see French youth wearing fashion items with the good old British flag on them.
But it’s the English one that will continue to be contested. I think it would look better if it were adjusted to the Nordic off-centre horizontal design. Would place us more accurately in our geo-climatic milieu.
Flying St George's cross just feels distinctly un-English to me. I thought the English were supposed to have the kind of self-confidence which means you don't need to make such gestures.
Even Rod Liddle wrote in this week's Fint Knapper Gazette that a country that is flying too many of its own flags all over the place is a sign of a country in trouble and short on confidence.
That appears to be the menu for the Bull at Corbridge. Dyvels used to be better before it flooded. 30 years ago you could get under the counter scrumpy there. Now it's full of rugger buggers.
PS. Kylie Minogue drank at the Angel when in Corbridge. You can't argue with that.
Ha ha, what a twit I am.
Got lunch there on Thursday with brother and sister in law and my wife.
Families should make time to eat at the table without screens several days a week
If people stopped staring at screens for hours on end, Goodwin would lose the very thing that gives sustenance to his career as an opinion huckster. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you Matt!
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
It’s only deemed racism because the media and commenters deem it so.
If a racist thug hangs a cross of St George he’s a racist thug
If a taxi driver festoons his cab with flags during the World Cup he’s a little obsessive but not a racist
If a kid goes to a street party they are a kid going to a street party
The use of the flag doesn’t change who any of these people are.
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
There is a house just along from me that has flown the English flag, the Lincolnshire flag* and (since 2022) the Ukraine flag continuously for as long as I have lived here. No one considers the owners racist or xenophobic and nor should they.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
I don’t understand the need to fly flags on non official buildings . Sorry I just don’t get it . You can accuse me of stereotyping but the English flag has unfortunately been hijacked .
Why do you find the English flag so offensive?
I don’t find it offensive , it’s a nice flag . The problem is those who have hijacked it .
They’re attempting to hijack it, as hooligans have done for decades, but they are only successful if you let them be.
The St George cross is a reasonable flag, more interesting than most tricolores but not as good as the Union flag, which is one of the best and most iconic designs in the world. I’m always filled with pride when I see French youth wearing fashion items with the good old British flag on them.
But it’s the English one that will continue to be contested. I think it would look better if it were adjusted to the Nordic off-centre horizontal design. Would place us more accurately in our geo-climatic milieu.
Flying St George's cross just feels distinctly un-English to me. I thought the English were supposed to have the kind of self-confidence which means you don't need to make such gestures.
Even Rod Liddle wrote in this week's Fint Knapper Gazette that a country that is flying too many of its own flags all over the place is a sign of a country in trouble and short on confidence.
Or threatened by the Russians. I’ve never seen more St George crosses than I did during my 2 week sojourn in Georgia a couple of years ago. That, and “fuck Putin” graffiti.
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
There is a house just along from me that has flown the English flag, the Lincolnshire flag* and (since 2022) the Ukraine flag continuously for as long as I have lived here. No one considers the owners racist or xenophobic and nor should they.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
I don’t understand the need to fly flags on non official buildings . Sorry I just don’t get it . You can accuse me of stereotyping but the English flag has unfortunately been hijacked .
Why do you find the English flag so offensive?
I don’t find it offensive , it’s a nice flag . The problem is those who have hijacked it .
They’re attempting to hijack it, as hooligans have done for decades, but they are only successful if you let them be.
The St George cross is a reasonable flag, more interesting than most tricolores but not as good as the Union flag, which is one of the best and most iconic designs in the world. I’m always filled with pride when I see French youth wearing fashion items with the good old British flag on them.
But it’s the English one that will continue to be contested. I think it would look better if it were adjusted to the Nordic off-centre horizontal design. Would place us more accurately in our geo-climatic milieu.
Flying St George's cross just feels distinctly un-English to me. I thought the English were supposed to have the kind of self-confidence which means you don't need to make such gestures.
Even Rod Liddle wrote in this week's Fint Knapper Gazette that a country that is flying too many of its own flags all over the place is a sign of a country in trouble and short on confidence.
Which is true
What PB does not seem to understand is that maybe 35-40% of the country (possibly a lot more in the right context) simply do not give a fuck, any more, if you call them "racist", "gammons", "Nazis", whatever. They've heard it for fifty years, and they've been scorned for fifty years, and they've been ignored, in terms of their views on mass immigration for the same fifty years, and as a result their towns, cities and country have been transformed in a way they not only did not vote for, but expressly voted AGAINST
The lies are now coming back to haunt the liars, and a bill is about to be presented. I prefer the German term. Die Rechnung
It's Twatto McPratto exhibiting the depth of his knowledge of the world.
Vance and his boss, Trump, both have, AIUI, good American degrees.
And we think we’ve problems with our universities.
Most US colleges are fiercely woke and hate Trump and Vance.
Vance is more of an intellectual than Trump though and better able to articulate his America First, anti globalisation, anti woke and socially conservative views
Sounds as though you have some sympathy with the mendacious piece of work ?
Do you really believe this sort of thing, from an intelligent man, is an honest assessment ?
Q: "What makes you think President Putin is serious about peace?"
Vance: "What they have conceded is the recognition that Ukraine will have territorial integrity after the war. They've recognized that they're not gonna be able to install a puppet regime in Kyiv. And...they've acknowledged that there is going to be some security guarantee to the territorial integrity of Ukraine...[Trump's] not trying to focus on every nitpicky detail of how this thing started 3.5 years ago." https://x.com/BulwarkOnline/status/1959612172733907196
Whatever you think of Vance's views of prospects for peace in Ukraine, he can write as this article shows
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
There is a house just along from me that has flown the English flag, the Lincolnshire flag* and (since 2022) the Ukraine flag continuously for as long as I have lived here. No one considers the owners racist or xenophobic and nor should they.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
I don’t understand the need to fly flags on non official buildings . Sorry I just don’t get it . You can accuse me of stereotyping but the English flag has unfortunately been hijacked .
Why do you find the English flag so offensive?
I don’t find it offensive , it’s a nice flag . The problem is those who have hijacked it .
They’re attempting to hijack it, as hooligans have done for decades, but they are only successful if you let them be.
The St George cross is a reasonable flag, more interesting than most tricolores but not as good as the Union flag, which is one of the best and most iconic designs in the world. I’m always filled with pride when I see French youth wearing fashion items with the good old British flag on them.
But it’s the English one that will continue to be contested. I think it would look better if it were adjusted to the Nordic off-centre horizontal design. Would place us more accurately in our geo-climatic milieu.
Flying St George's cross just feels distinctly un-English to me. I thought the English were supposed to have the kind of self-confidence which means you don't need to make such gestures.
Interesting. So are you claiming the Scots have an inferiority complex?
Those flying a Saltire in their gardens? I think that's at least part of it, yes.
The thing about the English (and I guess the UK as whole) is that they have not had a revolution and they haven't overthrown an oppressor, so they don't need to define themselves against one in the same way as the Americans, the Scottish, the Welsh, the French etc do.
The one thing they can cling to is the Norman Invasion, hence the febrile fascination with Anglo-Saxons. Godwinson's flag was a white soldier on a red field, if anyone is looking for ideas...
What you wave yourself, what you run up a flagpole on your property, what you put in your window, that's up to you. There may be social consequences if it's the flags of our enemies, but that's as far as it goes. Otherwise, the more the merrier. (One of the things that the English always seem to have struggled with is overlapping identities, some of them shared and others not. See London vs. Essex here in Romford, or the British/European thing that caused and causes so much hassle in our relationship with the EU... it's largely a non-question elsewhere.)
And if there's a sense that life would be nicer with more flags, splendid. Let's work out how to pay to do it properly.
But if you co-opt lampposts as unoffical flagpoles without asking, that's vandalism. If you go round spray-painting scruffy red crosses everywhere, that's definitely vandalism. And that's not terribly British/English... is it?
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
There is a house just along from me that has flown the English flag, the Lincolnshire flag* and (since 2022) the Ukraine flag continuously for as long as I have lived here. No one considers the owners racist or xenophobic and nor should they.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
I don’t understand the need to fly flags on non official buildings . Sorry I just don’t get it . You can accuse me of stereotyping but the English flag has unfortunately been hijacked .
Why do you find the English flag so offensive?
I don’t find it offensive , it’s a nice flag . The problem is those who have hijacked it .
They’re attempting to hijack it, as hooligans have done for decades, but they are only successful if you let them be.
The St George cross is a reasonable flag, more interesting than most tricolores but not as good as the Union flag, which is one of the best and most iconic designs in the world. I’m always filled with pride when I see French youth wearing fashion items with the good old British flag on them.
But it’s the English one that will continue to be contested. I think it would look better if it were adjusted to the Nordic off-centre horizontal design. Would place us more accurately in our geo-climatic milieu.
Flying St George's cross just feels distinctly un-English to me. I thought the English were supposed to have the kind of self-confidence which means you don't need to make such gestures.
Interesting. So are you claiming the Scots have an inferiority complex?
Those flying a Saltire in their gardens? I think that's at least part of it, yes.
The thing about the English (and I guess the UK as whole) is that they have not had a revolution and they haven't overthrown an oppressor, so they don't need to define themselves against one in the same way as the Americans, the Scottish, the Welsh, the French etc do.
The one thing they can cling to is the Norman Invasion, hence the febrile fascination with Anglo-Saxons. Godwinson's flag was
The English indeed had a revolution, but at 400 years ago it no longer has any relevance.in England (the Irish will.tell you something else about Cromwell, not sure about the Scots)
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
There is a house just along from me that has flown the English flag, the Lincolnshire flag* and (since 2022) the Ukraine flag continuously for as long as I have lived here. No one considers the owners racist or xenophobic and nor should they.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
I don’t understand the need to fly flags on non official buildings . Sorry I just don’t get it . You can accuse me of stereotyping but the English flag has unfortunately been hijacked .
Why do you find the English flag so offensive?
I don’t find it offensive , it’s a nice flag . The problem is those who have hijacked it .
They’re attempting to hijack it, as hooligans have done for decades, but they are only successful if you let them be.
The St George cross is a reasonable flag, more interesting than most tricolores but not as good as the Union flag, which is one of the best and most iconic designs in the world. I’m always filled with pride when I see French youth wearing fashion items with the good old British flag on them.
But it’s the English one that will continue to be contested. I think it would look better if it were adjusted to the Nordic off-centre horizontal design. Would place us more accurately in our geo-climatic milieu.
Flying St George's cross just feels distinctly un-English to me. I thought the English were supposed to have the kind of self-confidence which means you don't need to make such gestures.
Interesting. So are you claiming the Scots have an inferiority complex?
Those flying a Saltire in their gardens? I think that's at least part of it, yes.
The thing about the English (and I guess the UK as whole) is that they have not had a revolution and they haven't overthrown an oppressor, so they don't need to define themselves against one in the same way as the Americans, the Scottish, the Welsh, the French etc do.
The one thing they can cling to is the Norman Invasion, hence the febrile fascination with Anglo-Saxons. Godwinson's flag was a white soldier on a red field, if anyone is looking for ideas...
Speaking of which the new BBC drama on the Norman Conquest has just finished its first episode on BBC1 focusing on the lead up to Edward the Confessor's coronation
York. I thought it was one of those genteel slightly Hyacinth Bouquet meets Alan Bennett Yorkshire towns like Wetherby or Harrogate. But no, from this weekend’s evidence it’s very much a city of “the people”.
Tattier than its sibling Canterbury, most surprisingly. And humming with 21st century chain nightlife. Within a 5 minute walk of my Airbnb there’s a Slug & Lettuce, O’Neills, Yates’s wine lodge, and a Pitcher & Piano. Brands I thought had died a decade or more ago. Not to mention “Lil’s on the waterfront”, “plonkers”, “the stone roses bar”, “Valhalla” and a whole panoply of other venues, filled with the dolled up and lagered up party animals of North Yorkshire. Who’d have thought it?
Isn’t this though the English being the English. We have this false image of us from Victorian history and Edwardian times of being polite and mannered but that was the history of the upper to aspirant middle classes. You look at the rest of English history from Georgian back and we are a wild, drunken, unruly mob. It was very useful when establishing defence or taking over other countries to have wonderful drunken hooligans as a majority of the population.
We are individualistic - I feel this is shown in our lack of the family structure when it comes to looking after the old and sending our finest to boarding school.
We are a wild, Northern, irreligious lot. We drink, fight, shag.
We aren’t the Victorian English but we are the English of Beowulf, the fights a drunkenness in Chaucer and Shakespeare. You look at the violence of riots at the Public Schools and the universities.
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
There is a house just along from me that has flown the English flag, the Lincolnshire flag* and (since 2022) the Ukraine flag continuously for as long as I have lived here. No one considers the owners racist or xenophobic and nor should they.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
I don’t understand the need to fly flags on non official buildings . Sorry I just don’t get it . You can accuse me of stereotyping but the English flag has unfortunately been hijacked .
Why do you find the English flag so offensive?
I don’t find it offensive , it’s a nice flag . The problem is those who have hijacked it .
They’re attempting to hijack it, as hooligans have done for decades, but they are only successful if you let them be.
The St George cross is a reasonable flag, more interesting than most tricolores but not as good as the Union flag, which is one of the best and most iconic designs in the world. I’m always filled with pride when I see French youth wearing fashion items with the good old British flag on them.
But it’s the English one that will continue to be contested. I think it would look better if it were adjusted to the Nordic off-centre horizontal design. Would place us more accurately in our geo-climatic milieu.
Flying St George's cross just feels distinctly un-English to me. I thought the English were supposed to have the kind of self-confidence which means you don't need to make such gestures.
Even Rod Liddle wrote in this week's Fint Knapper Gazette that a country that is flying too many of its own flags all over the place is a sign of a country in trouble and short on confidence.
On the subject of flags, I think the French and the Americans do it better. They are visibly proud of their country, in a way we in Britain are not. This is not to imply that Britain has at all times been great*, but a recognition that -on balance- Britain has been good for the world.
The problem is that the Union Jack flying in the UK all too often suggests that the person flying it would rather the Empire had not gone away.
In the words of Show of Hands (thanks @Richard_Tyndall), it's my flag too, and I want it back.
* The opium wars and the betrayal of the white Russians spring to mind
On the subject of flags, I think the French and the Americans do it better. They are visibly proud of their country, in a way we in Britain are not. This is not to imply that Britain has at all times been great*, but a recognition that -on balance- Britain has been good for the world.
The problem is that the Union Jack flying in the UK all too often suggests that the person flying it would rather the Empire had not gone away.
In the words of Show of Hands (thanks @Richard_Tyndall), it's my flag too, and I want it back.
* The opium wars and the betrayal of the white Russians spring to mind
This is largely untrue about France
They have better civic pride - they look after their towns and cities much better than we do, and we could learn a lot - but French identity is easily as contested as that of Britain/England. Indeed they have large ethnic minority groups, from north Africa, who actively reject and detest "Frenchness", for some understandable historical reasons, in a way you don't get in Britain. We have different issues
Essentially, mass immigration has been a disastrous error for every country in Europe
America does it rather better, because it always was "the melting pot". Bit tough on the Navajo, tho
That appears to be the menu for the Bull at Corbridge. Dyvels used to be better before it flooded. 30 years ago you could get under the counter scrumpy there. Now it's full of rugger buggers.
PS. Kylie Minogue drank at the Angel when in Corbridge. You can't argue with that.
Ha ha, what a twit I am.
Got lunch there on Thursday with brother and sister in law and my wife.
I quite fancy the toad in the hole and the panna cotta.
There's a great micropub in the Pele Tower in Corbridge. No food, but once you have eaten in the Bull or the Angel and fancy a couple more pints
That’s me !!!
Thanks.
However usually when I’m with my wife that avenue of pleasure is removed 😂
Bugger it closed at 8pm tonight and doesn't reopen until Thursday. Unless it is on special Bank Holiday hours and Google Maps reckons it is open tomorrow (but not the CAMRA website)
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
There is a house just along from me that has flown the English flag, the Lincolnshire flag* and (since 2022) the Ukraine flag continuously for as long as I have lived here. No one considers the owners racist or xenophobic and nor should they.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
I don’t understand the need to fly flags on non official buildings . Sorry I just don’t get it . You can accuse me of stereotyping but the English flag has unfortunately been hijacked .
Why does there have to be a need?
People could just do it because they want to. Flags are colourful and pretty and move in fun ways in the wind.
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
There is a house just along from me that has flown the English flag, the Lincolnshire flag* and (since 2022) the Ukraine flag continuously for as long as I have lived here. No one considers the owners racist or xenophobic and nor should they.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
I don’t understand the need to fly flags on non official buildings . Sorry I just don’t get it . You can accuse me of stereotyping but the English flag has unfortunately been hijacked .
Why do you find the English flag so offensive?
I don’t find it offensive , it’s a nice flag . The problem is those who have hijacked it .
They’re attempting to hijack it, as hooligans have done for decades, but they are only successful if you let them be.
The St George cross is a reasonable flag, more interesting than most tricolores but not as good as the Union flag, which is one of the best and most iconic designs in the world. I’m always filled with pride when I see French youth wearing fashion items with the good old British flag on them.
But it’s the English one that will continue to be contested. I think it would look better if it were adjusted to the Nordic off-centre horizontal design. Would place us more accurately in our geo-climatic milieu.
Flying St George's cross just feels distinctly un-English to me. I thought the English were supposed to have the kind of self-confidence which means you don't need to make such gestures.
Even Rod Liddle wrote in this week's Fint Knapper Gazette that a country that is flying too many of its own flags all over the place is a sign of a country in trouble and short on confidence.
Which is true
What PB does not seem to understand is that maybe 35-40% of the country (possibly a lot more in the right context) simply do not give a fuck, any more, if you call them "racist", "gammons", "Nazis", whatever. They've heard it for fifty years, and they've been scorned for fifty years, and they've been ignored, in terms of their views on mass immigration for the same fifty years, and as a result their towns, cities and country have been transformed in a way they not only did not vote for, but expressly voted AGAINST
The lies are now coming back to haunt the liars, and a bill is about to be presented. I prefer the German term. Die Rechnung
I feel like someone should flag this comment, just for the neat conceptual irony
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
There is a house just along from me that has flown the English flag, the Lincolnshire flag* and (since 2022) the Ukraine flag continuously for as long as I have lived here. No one considers the owners racist or xenophobic and nor should they.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
I don’t understand the need to fly flags on non official buildings . Sorry I just don’t get it . You can accuse me of stereotyping but the English flag has unfortunately been hijacked .
Why do you find the English flag so offensive?
I don’t find it offensive , it’s a nice flag . The problem is those who have hijacked it .
They’re attempting to hijack it, as hooligans have done for decades, but they are only successful if you let them be.
The St George cross is a reasonable flag, more interesting than most tricolores but not as good as the Union flag, which is one of the best and most iconic designs in the world. I’m always filled with pride when I see French youth wearing fashion items with the good old British flag on them.
But it’s the English one that will continue to be contested. I think it would look better if it were adjusted to the Nordic off-centre horizontal design. Would place us more accurately in our geo-climatic milieu.
Flying St George's cross just feels distinctly un-English to me. I thought the English were supposed to have the kind of self-confidence which means you don't need to make such gestures.
Interesting. So are you claiming the Scots have an inferiority complex?
Those flying a Saltire in their gardens? I think that's at least part of it, yes.
The thing about the English (and I guess the UK as whole) is that they have not had a revolution and they haven't overthrown an oppressor, so they don't need to define themselves against one in the same way as the Americans, the Scottish, the Welsh, the French etc do.
The one thing they can cling to is the Norman Invasion, hence the febrile fascination with Anglo-Saxons. Godwinson's flag was a white soldier on a red field, if anyone is looking for ideas...
Evening all, from a balmy Athens night under the Parthenon.
Although the English did have a revolution before many other European peoples. All rhe ingredients for a more liberal patriotism are there, but obscured.
York. I thought it was one of those genteel slightly Hyacinth Bouquet meets Alan Bennett Yorkshire towns like Wetherby or Harrogate. But no, from this weekend’s evidence it’s very much a city of “the people”.
Tattier than its sibling Canterbury, most surprisingly. And humming with 21st century chain nightlife. Within a 5 minute walk of my Airbnb there’s a Slug & Lettuce, O’Neills, Yates’s wine lodge, and a Pitcher & Piano. Brands I thought had died a decade or more ago. Not to mention “Lil’s on the waterfront”, “plonkers”, “the stone roses bar”, “Valhalla” and a whole panoply of other venues, filled with the dolled up and lagered up party animals of North Yorkshire. Who’d have thought it?
Isn’t this though the English being the English. We have this false image of us from Victorian history and Edwardian times of being polite and mannered but that was the history of the upper to aspirant middle classes. You look at the rest of English history from Georgian back and we are a wild, drunken, unruly mob. It was very useful when establishing defence or taking over other countries to have wonderful drunken hooligans as a majority of the population.
We are individualistic - I feel this is shown in our lack of the family structure when it comes to looking after the old and sending our finest to boarding school.
We are a wild, Northern, irreligious lot. We drink, fight, shag.
We aren’t the Victorian English but we are the English of Beowulf, the fights a drunkenness in Chaucer and Shakespeare. You look at the violence of riots at the Public Schools and the universities.
We are magnificently uncouth in many ways.
Yebbut. York. I’ve been here a few times in the past, in daytime - my wife is from Wetherby - but had never suspected it to be one of those types of place. But then it has a population of over 200k, and has a large catchment, as anyone familiar with staring at a Christaller isotropic plain would acknowledge, so it’s no small backwater.
But York I had as the sort of place that would be relatively quiet and early closing on a Sunday, which shows just how wrong I was.
The other funny thing is the average age of the revellers. At a guess comfortably north of 40.
On the subject of flags, I think the French and the Americans do it better. They are visibly proud of their country, in a way we in Britain are not. This is not to imply that Britain has at all times been great*, but a recognition that -on balance- Britain has been good for the world.
The problem is that the Union Jack flying in the UK all too often suggests that the person flying it would rather the Empire had not gone away.
In the words of Show of Hands (thanks @Richard_Tyndall), it's my flag too, and I want it back.
* The opium wars and the betrayal of the white Russians spring to mind
This is largely untrue about France
They have better civic pride - they look after their towns and cities much better than we do, and we could learn a lot - but French identity is easily as contested as that of Britain/England. Indeed they have large ethnic minority groups, from north Africa, who actively reject and detest "Frenchness", for some understandable historical reasons, in a way you don't get in Britain. We have different issues
Essentially, mass immigration has been a disastrous error for every country in Europe
America does it rather better, because it always was "the melting pot". Bit tough on the Navajo, tho
I've walked through Breton, Basque, Occitan and Catalan regions of France
I wonder how they'll compare to the French West coast that I'm planning to walk in the Spring
What you wave yourself, what you run up a flagpole on your property, what you put in your window, that's up to you. There may be social consequences if it's the flags of our enemies, but that's as far as it goes. Otherwise, the more the merrier. (One of the things that the English always seem to have struggled with is overlapping identities, some of them shared and others not. See London vs. Essex here in Romford, or the British/European thing that caused and causes so much hassle in our relationship with the EU... it's largely a non-question elsewhere.)
And if there's a sense that life would be nicer with more flags, splendid. Let's work out how to pay to do it properly.
But if you co-opt lampposts as unoffical flagpoles without asking, that's vandalism. If you go round spray-painting scruffy red crosses everywhere, that's definitely vandalism. And that's not terribly British/English... is it?
Painting something is vandalism, but tying a flag to something is not, because it's not a permanent fixture. I believe that distinction is in law.
On the subject of flags, I think the French and the Americans do it better. They are visibly proud of their country, in a way we in Britain are not. This is not to imply that Britain has at all times been great*, but a recognition that -on balance- Britain has been good for the world.
The problem is that the Union Jack flying in the UK all too often suggests that the person flying it would rather the Empire had not gone away.
In the words of Show of Hands (thanks @Richard_Tyndall), it's my flag too, and I want it back.
* The opium wars and the betrayal of the white Russians spring to mind
Is it not just the case that we are just an older country than the US, and we are just more relaxed and casual about our patriotism. Also we have the King as our figurehead and don't fetishise the flag in the same way
That appears to be the menu for the Bull at Corbridge. Dyvels used to be better before it flooded. 30 years ago you could get under the counter scrumpy there. Now it's full of rugger buggers.
PS. Kylie Minogue drank at the Angel when in Corbridge. You can't argue with that.
Ha ha, what a twit I am.
Got lunch there on Thursday with brother and sister in law and my wife.
I quite fancy the toad in the hole and the panna cotta.
There's a great micropub in the Pele Tower in Corbridge. No food, but once you have eaten in the Bull or the Angel and fancy a couple more pints
That’s me !!!
Thanks.
However usually when I’m with my wife that avenue of pleasure is removed 😂
Bugger it closed at 8pm tonight and doesn't reopen until Thursday. Unless it is on special Bank Holiday hours and Google Maps reckons it is open tomorrow (but not the CAMRA website)
Usually open (I don't know about the BH) 11-11 Thursday, Friday and Saturday. 11-8 Sunday and Monday. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Eccentric hours. But then Corbridge is an unusual place in many ways.
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
There is a house just along from me that has flown the English flag, the Lincolnshire flag* and (since 2022) the Ukraine flag continuously for as long as I have lived here. No one considers the owners racist or xenophobic and nor should they.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
I don’t understand the need to fly flags on non official buildings . Sorry I just don’t get it . You can accuse me of stereotyping but the English flag has unfortunately been hijacked .
Why do you find the English flag so offensive?
I don’t find it offensive , it’s a nice flag . The problem is those who have hijacked it .
They’re attempting to hijack it, as hooligans have done for decades, but they are only successful if you let them be.
The St George cross is a reasonable flag, more interesting than most tricolores but not as good as the Union flag, which is one of the best and most iconic designs in the world. I’m always filled with pride when I see French youth wearing fashion items with the good old British flag on them.
But it’s the English one that will continue to be contested. I think it would look better if it were adjusted to the Nordic off-centre horizontal design. Would place us more accurately in our geo-climatic milieu.
Flying St George's cross just feels distinctly un-English to me. I thought the English were supposed to have the kind of self-confidence which means you don't need to make such gestures.
Interesting. So are you claiming the Scots have an inferiority complex?
Those flying a Saltire in their gardens? I think that's at least part of it, yes.
The thing about the English (and I guess the UK as whole) is that they have not had a revolution and they haven't overthrown an oppressor, so they don't need to define themselves against one in the same way as the Americans, the Scottish, the Welsh, the French etc do.
The one thing they can cling to is the Norman Invasion, hence the febrile fascination with Anglo-Saxons. Godwinson's flag was
The English indeed had a revolution, but at 400 years ago it no longer has any relevance.in England (the Irish will.tell you something else about Cromwell, not sure about the Scots)
There were, in fact, multiple revolutions since.
The Reform Act, universal suffrage, the show down with the House of Lords in 1911 - these would have been revolutions in many countries. The British way was to bend to change which resulted in a vast reduction in bloodshed.
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
There is a house just along from me that has flown the English flag, the Lincolnshire flag* and (since 2022) the Ukraine flag continuously for as long as I have lived here. No one considers the owners racist or xenophobic and nor should they.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
I don’t understand the need to fly flags on non official buildings . Sorry I just don’t get it . You can accuse me of stereotyping but the English flag has unfortunately been hijacked .
Why do you find the English flag so offensive?
I don’t find it offensive , it’s a nice flag . The problem is those who have hijacked it .
They’re attempting to hijack it, as hooligans have done for decades, but they are only successful if you let them be.
The St George cross is a reasonable flag, more interesting than most tricolores but not as good as the Union flag, which is one of the best and most iconic designs in the world. I’m always filled with pride when I see French youth wearing fashion items with the good old British flag on them.
But it’s the English one that will continue to be contested. I think it would look better if it were adjusted to the Nordic off-centre horizontal design. Would place us more accurately in our geo-climatic milieu.
Flying St George's cross just feels distinctly un-English to me. I thought the English were supposed to have the kind of self-confidence which means you don't need to make such gestures.
Even Rod Liddle wrote in this week's Fint Knapper Gazette that a country that is flying too many of its own flags all over the place is a sign of a country in trouble and short on confidence.
Which is true
What PB does not seem to understand is that maybe 35-40% of the country (possibly a lot more in the right context) simply do not give a fuck, any more, if you call them "racist", "gammons", "Nazis", whatever. They've heard it for fifty years, and they've been scorned for fifty years, and they've been ignored, in terms of their views on mass immigration for the same fifty years, and as a result their towns, cities and country have been transformed in a way they not only did not vote for, but expressly voted AGAINST
The lies are now coming back to haunt the liars, and a bill is about to be presented. I prefer the German term. Die Rechnung
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
There is a house just along from me that has flown the English flag, the Lincolnshire flag* and (since 2022) the Ukraine flag continuously for as long as I have lived here. No one considers the owners racist or xenophobic and nor should they.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
I don’t understand the need to fly flags on non official buildings . Sorry I just don’t get it . You can accuse me of stereotyping but the English flag has unfortunately been hijacked .
Why do you find the English flag so offensive?
I don’t find it offensive , it’s a nice flag . The problem is those who have hijacked it .
They’re attempting to hijack it, as hooligans have done for decades, but they are only successful if you let them be.
The St George cross is a reasonable flag, more interesting than most tricolores but not as good as the Union flag, which is one of the best and most iconic designs in the world. I’m always filled with pride when I see French youth wearing fashion items with the good old British flag on them.
But it’s the English one that will continue to be contested. I think it would look better if it were adjusted to the Nordic off-centre horizontal design. Would place us more accurately in our geo-climatic milieu.
Flying St George's cross just feels distinctly un-English to me. I thought the English were supposed to have the kind of self-confidence which means you don't need to make such gestures.
Interesting. So are you claiming the Scots have an inferiority complex?
Those flying a Saltire in their gardens? I think that's at least part of it, yes.
The thing about the English (and I guess the UK as whole) is that they have not had a revolution and they haven't overthrown an oppressor, so they don't need to define themselves against one in the same way as the Americans, the Scottish, the Welsh, the French etc do.
The one thing they can cling to is the Norman Invasion, hence the febrile fascination with Anglo-Saxons. Godwinson's flag was a white soldier on a red field, if anyone is looking for ideas...
What you wave yourself, what you run up a flagpole on your property, what you put in your window, that's up to you. There may be social consequences if it's the flags of our enemies, but that's as far as it goes. Otherwise, the more the merrier. (One of the things that the English always seem to have struggled with is overlapping identities, some of them shared and others not. See London vs. Essex here in Romford, or the British/European thing that caused and causes so much hassle in our relationship with the EU... it's largely a non-question elsewhere.)
And if there's a sense that life would be nicer with more flags, splendid. Let's work out how to pay to do it properly.
But if you co-opt lampposts as unoffical flagpoles without asking, that's vandalism. If you go round spray-painting scruffy red crosses everywhere, that's definitely vandalism. And that's not terribly British/English... is it?
Except that in multiple cities in the UK, the authorities have tolerated the hanging of Palestinian flags. I've seen it in London
So hanging Palestinian flags from lamp-posts is all fine and groovy, but hanging our own national flag is wrong, racist and provocative?
Quite frankly, you can REDACTED REDACTED
This is one of the main problems. Everyone can now see the screaming double standards of people like, well, you
If you'd come down on hard on Palestinian flag-shaggers, well and good. But you didn't
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
There is a house just along from me that has flown the English flag, the Lincolnshire flag* and (since 2022) the Ukraine flag continuously for as long as I have lived here. No one considers the owners racist or xenophobic and nor should they.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
I don’t understand the need to fly flags on non official buildings . Sorry I just don’t get it . You can accuse me of stereotyping but the English flag has unfortunately been hijacked .
Why do you find the English flag so offensive?
I don’t find it offensive , it’s a nice flag . The problem is those who have hijacked it .
They’re attempting to hijack it, as hooligans have done for decades, but they are only successful if you let them be.
The St George cross is a reasonable flag, more interesting than most tricolores but not as good as the Union flag, which is one of the best and most iconic designs in the world. I’m always filled with pride when I see French youth wearing fashion items with the good old British flag on them.
But it’s the English one that will continue to be contested. I think it would look better if it were adjusted to the Nordic off-centre horizontal design. Would place us more accurately in our geo-climatic milieu.
Flying St George's cross just feels distinctly un-English to me. I thought the English were supposed to have the kind of self-confidence which means you don't need to make such gestures.
Even Rod Liddle wrote in this week's Fint Knapper Gazette that a country that is flying too many of its own flags all over the place is a sign of a country in trouble and short on confidence.
Which is true
What PB does not seem to understand is that maybe 35-40% of the country (possibly a lot more in the right context) simply do not give a fuck, any more, if you call them "racist", "gammons", "Nazis", whatever. They've heard it for fifty years, and they've been scorned for fifty years, and they've been ignored, in terms of their views on mass immigration for the same fifty years, and as a result their towns, cities and country have been transformed in a way they not only did not vote for, but expressly voted AGAINST
The lies are now coming back to haunt the liars, and a bill is about to be presented. I prefer the German term. Die Rechnung
That appears to be the menu for the Bull at Corbridge. Dyvels used to be better before it flooded. 30 years ago you could get under the counter scrumpy there. Now it's full of rugger buggers.
PS. Kylie Minogue drank at the Angel when in Corbridge. You can't argue with that.
Ha ha, what a twit I am.
Got lunch there on Thursday with brother and sister in law and my wife.
I quite fancy the toad in the hole and the panna cotta.
There's a great micropub in the Pele Tower in Corbridge. No food, but once you have eaten in the Bull or the Angel and fancy a couple more pints
That’s me !!!
Thanks.
However usually when I’m with my wife that avenue of pleasure is removed 😂
Bugger it closed at 8pm tonight and doesn't reopen until Thursday. Unless it is on special Bank Holiday hours and Google Maps reckons it is open tomorrow (but not the CAMRA website)
Usually open (I don't know about the BH) 11-11 Thursday, Friday and Saturday. 11-8 Sunday and Monday. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Eccentric hours. But then Corbridge is an unusual place in many ways.
Not sure that is eccentric, it's a micropub. Open 54 hours a week, you can cover that with 2 full timers overlapping at busy times
Comments
Oh I see you wrote it in 40 min.
PS Saw my first flags today on a roundabout in Bracknell. Bracknell - it says it all.
I’m currently watching all of Dalziel and Pascoe. He’s good in that too.
Then hopefully just a couple of weeks of gently increasing exercise until I can get back to work
1. One in which the commercial banks buy bonds from the Bank of England. In return they give the Bank of England assets. This is designed to promote liquidity (the assets transferred by the commercial banks are real assets but are illiquid). But the assets exist and interest should be paid on the bonds that are used to pay for them
2. One in which the Treasury creates new bonds and sells them to the market for cash (this is the normal debt management process). Once again they are real debt and interest should be paid on them.
What you are getting muddled up with is wheee the Bank of England buys bonds direct from the Treasury. This is basically printing money. It’s meaningless whether interest is paid these bonds or not - any profits the bank makes are just returned to the Treasury.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/aug/24/flag-hard-right-prejudice-england
https://www.gotoliquorstore.com/p/tennents-lager/20983
The US is a nation of barbarians.
@GoodwinMJ
Only 24% of Brits sit at a table and make conversation while eating. Two-thirds stare at screens.
-new survey, reported in The Times tonight
7:15 PM · Aug 24, 2025"
https://x.com/GoodwinMJ/status/1959680932908024104
‘Harold, get your head out of your arse!’
Friedrich Merz calls for fundamental reassessment of benefits system and insists he will not be scared away from making necessary reforms" (£)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/08/24/friedrich-merz-germany-welfare-state-benefits-unsustainable
https://www.chefandbrewer.com/pubs/northumberland/black-bull/menu?type=main+menu§ion=country+pub+classics
He hasn't been on a golf course for 2 weeks...
Dyvels used to be better before it flooded.
30 years ago you could get under the counter scrumpy there.
Now it's full of rugger buggers.
PS. Kylie Minogue drank at the Angel when in Corbridge.
You can't argue with that.
Do you really believe this sort of thing, from an intelligent man, is an honest assessment ?
Q: "What makes you think President Putin is serious about peace?"
Vance: "What they have conceded is the recognition that Ukraine will have territorial integrity after the war. They've recognized that they're not gonna be able to install a puppet regime in Kyiv. And...they've acknowledged that there is going to be some security guarantee to the territorial integrity of Ukraine...[Trump's] not trying to focus on every nitpicky detail of how this thing started 3.5 years ago."
https://x.com/BulwarkOnline/status/1959612172733907196
The St George cross is a reasonable flag, more interesting than most tricolores but not as good as the Union flag, which is one of the best and most iconic designs in the world. I’m always filled with pride when I see French youth wearing fashion items with the good old British flag on them.
But it’s the English one that will continue to be contested. I think it would look better if it were adjusted to the Nordic off-centre horizontal design. Would place us more accurately in our geo-climatic milieu.
I would like to have a 2 hour debate on Pantone 280 or Pantone 300 if anyone is up for it.
Got lunch there on Thursday with brother and sister in law and my wife.
https://www.geoguessr.com/fl/2036
I love Northumberland. Spend a lot of time there. It’s a stunning county full of lovely places. It also has Ashington.
Compare
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_English_flags
with
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Spanish_flags... much more like it.
@DPJHodges
Say it again. Ordinary working people aren’t going to want this in their communities. And any politician aligning themselves with it is in trouble.
@RobJeffries
·
12h
This isn’t patriotism now.
It’s just fucking vandalism.
https://x.com/RobJeffries/status/1959529472064942195
I was similarly 'confused' this morning when Bondygoogoo tried to tell me that almost all Pakistani asylum seekers got sent home, and it turned out 57% of them were granted asylum, but silly confused me didn't realise he was averaging out the whole of South Asia.
Tattier than its sibling Canterbury, most surprisingly. And humming with 21st century chain nightlife. Within a 5 minute walk of my Airbnb there’s a Slug & Lettuce, O’Neills, Yates’s wine lodge, and a Pitcher & Piano. Brands I thought had died a decade or more ago. Not to mention “Lil’s on the waterfront”, “plonkers”, “the stone roses bar”, “Valhalla” and a whole panoply of other venues, filled with the dolled up and lagered up party animals of North Yorkshire. Who’d have thought it?
As you know I am disgusting centrist scumbag filth, but back in the 1980s I was a big backer of buying British. If there was a British option, or a politically British option I would chose it over the foreign alternative. I wore a 4x2 Union flag under the bumper of my (Cologne made) Capri, I was backing Britain. I was that patriotic (sorry that much of a racially unaware wanker).
Flying the flag, particularly the flag of St George means different things to different people these days, and I don't want to associate myself with people painting red crosses on mini roundabouts and harassing asylum seekers in their hotels with the flag of St George to demonstrate their targets don't belong.
Mind you, I'd still be quite content to drive a Mini with Union flag tail lights, it tells a different story.
A nice twist on the traditional design I think.
Thanks.
However usually when I’m with my wife that avenue of pleasure is removed 😂
PB does not seem to get that
If a racist thug hangs a cross of St George he’s a racist thug
If a taxi driver festoons his cab with flags during the World Cup he’s a little obsessive but not a racist
If a kid goes to a street party they are a kid going to a street party
The use of the flag doesn’t change who any of these people are.
Amazing how quickly it all falls into pieces.
#raisethecolours #shitallovertheneighbourhood.
What PB does not seem to understand is that maybe 35-40% of the country (possibly a lot more in the right context) simply do not give a fuck, any more, if you call them "racist", "gammons", "Nazis", whatever. They've heard it for fifty years, and they've been scorned for fifty years, and they've been ignored, in terms of their views on mass immigration for the same fifty years, and as a result their towns, cities and country have been transformed in a way they not only did not vote for, but expressly voted AGAINST
The lies are now coming back to haunt the liars, and a bill is about to be presented. I prefer the German term. Die Rechnung
"How I Joined the Resistance" https://thelampmagazine.com/blog/how-i-joined-the-resistance
The thing about the English (and I guess the UK as whole) is that they have not had a revolution and they haven't overthrown an oppressor, so they don't need to define themselves against one in the same way as the Americans, the Scottish, the Welsh, the French etc do.
The one thing they can cling to is the Norman Invasion, hence the febrile fascination with Anglo-Saxons. Godwinson's flag was a white soldier on a red field, if anyone is looking for ideas...
What you wave yourself, what you run up a flagpole on your property, what you put in your window, that's up to you. There may be social consequences if it's the flags of our enemies, but that's as far as it goes. Otherwise, the more the merrier. (One of the things that the English always seem to have struggled with is overlapping identities, some of them shared and others not. See London vs. Essex here in Romford, or the British/European thing that caused and causes so much hassle in our relationship with the EU... it's largely a non-question elsewhere.)
And if there's a sense that life would be nicer with more flags, splendid. Let's work out how to pay to do it properly.
But if you co-opt lampposts as unoffical flagpoles without asking, that's vandalism. If you go round spray-painting scruffy red crosses everywhere, that's definitely vandalism. And that's not terribly British/English... is it?
We are individualistic - I feel this is shown in our lack of the family structure when it comes to looking after the old and sending our finest to boarding school.
We are a wild, Northern, irreligious lot. We drink, fight, shag.
We aren’t the Victorian English but we are the English of Beowulf, the fights a drunkenness in Chaucer and Shakespeare. You look at the violence of riots at the Public Schools and the universities.
We are magnificently uncouth in many ways.
The problem is that the Union Jack flying in the UK all too often suggests that the person flying it would rather the Empire had not gone away.
In the words of Show of Hands (thanks @Richard_Tyndall), it's my flag too, and I want it back.
* The opium wars and the betrayal of the white Russians spring to mind
They have better civic pride - they look after their towns and cities much better than we do, and we could learn a lot - but French identity is easily as contested as that of Britain/England. Indeed they have large ethnic minority groups, from north Africa, who actively reject and detest "Frenchness", for some understandable historical reasons, in a way you don't get in Britain. We have different issues
Essentially, mass immigration has been a disastrous error for every country in Europe
America does it rather better, because it always was "the melting pot". Bit tough on the Navajo, tho
People could just do it because they want to. Flags are colourful and pretty and move in fun ways in the wind.
Just chill out.
Not at all true of the Confederate flag
https://www.betfair.com/exchange/plus/tennis/market/1.232861962
Thanks
Although the English did have a revolution before many other European peoples. All rhe ingredients for a more liberal patriotism are there, but obscured.
But York I had as the sort of place that would be relatively quiet and early closing on a Sunday, which shows just how wrong I was.
The other funny thing is the average age of the revellers. At a guess comfortably north of 40.
I wonder how they'll compare to the French West coast that I'm planning to walk in the Spring
11-8 Sunday and Monday.
Closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
Eccentric hours. But then Corbridge is an unusual place in many ways.
The Reform Act, universal suffrage, the show down with the House of Lords in 1911 - these would have been revolutions in many countries. The British way was to bend to change which resulted in a vast reduction in bloodshed.
I've never seen this flag before. Thanks!
So hanging Palestinian flags from lamp-posts is all fine and groovy, but hanging our own national flag is wrong, racist and provocative?
Quite frankly, you can REDACTED REDACTED
This is one of the main problems. Everyone can now see the screaming double standards of people like, well, you
If you'd come down on hard on Palestinian flag-shaggers, well and good. But you didn't