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A Good Morning Britain guest has sparked fury by claiming the St George’s flag is ‘racist’ and should be changed.
Controversial black studies professor Kehinde Andrews claimed England’s national flag is deep-rooted in racism amid a row over a ‘patriotic outpouring’ in Britain.
An online movement called ‘Operation Raise the Colours’ has led to communities across the country hanging up Union Jack and St George’s flags, including in Birmingham, London, Bradford, Newcastle and Norwich.
But a row broke out when Birmingham City Council announced it would begin removing British flags from the city’s streets for ‘safety reasons’ – despite allowing Palestine flags to fly high for several months.
Council workers in Tower Hamlets, east London, were also met with abuse as they began to tear down flags hung by patriotic campaigners who insist they are not ‘racist’ but simply ‘proud English men’.
It comes at a time when St George’s flags have frequently been displayed by protesters outside migrant hotels – including The Bell Hotel, in Epping, Essex and the Britannia International in Canary Wharf, where several demonstrations have been held.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday, Mr Andrews weighed into the nationwide debate, telling hosts Adil Ray and Kate Garraway that the history of the flag has always been problematic and ‘represents racism’.
Mr Andrews, professor of black studies at Birmingham City University, said: ‘It’s not that the far-right has co-opted the flag. It’s that we don’t understand what this country is and the history of both of these symbols.
‘Both of these flags are the flags that were flown on ships that enslaved my ancestors; those are the flags that the British Army marched into places like Pakistan, India, Bengal, Africa, and colonised 25 percent of the world.
‘The reason the far-right picks up these flags and has consistently since the 60s, 70s, since my parents’ generation have been in the country is because these flags represent the racism that they are putting out into the world.
‘This campaign of putting these flags up, this is not some benign ‘let’s just be patriotic’… go and search ‘Operation Raise the Colours’ and you will find the same far-right, Little England, this nonsense-spewing about migrant hotels… this is what it’s about.’
He added: ‘People aren’t putting up these flags to celebrate Britain, they’re putting up this flag to remind us that Britain is white and we shouldn’t be here.’
Mr Andrews has previously come under fire for incendiary remarks about royals, Britain and racism.
He once declared that the late Queen Elizabeth II was ‘the number one symbol of white supremacy in the world’ and claimed the British Empire was ‘far worse than the Nazis’.
Mr Andrews has also accused former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill of being a ‘clear racist’ and said ‘Rule, Britannia!’ and ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ are racist songs.
Defending the St George’s and Union Jack on GMB, fellow guest Dr Rakib Ehsan took the opposing view and argued that there is absolutely nothing wrong with people displaying the national flags.
Dr Ehsan said: ‘In my view, there are many reasons why we should be proud of British identity. We should celebrate expressions of English pride.
‘If I just speak from a personal perspective, I think that Britain has a rich tradition of religious freedom.
‘I also think that, compared to other European countries, it fares much better in terms of anti-discrimination laws against its minorities.’
While Ehsan acknowledged why some people are now viewing the flags differently, he believes that they can be a symbol of unity.
He went on: ‘But I actually think when I see ethnic minority people expressing pride in their Britishness, celebrating their sense of belonging in England, I think that’s the perfect antidote, a great counter-challenge to far-right activity and those groups that ultimately want to take ownership of those flags.’
However, Andrews insisted that the flag simply cannot be used in this way.
Andrews later added: ‘These flags, these symbols, they represent white supremacy. You’re never going to get a large majority who will never look at that flag and never see anything but intimidation.’
Reactions to the segment online were mixed, with many arguing that there is nothing ‘hateful’ about the flags, fuming: ‘This is England, the English will fly their flag as and when they want to, WHEREVER they want to.’
Others agreed: ‘Why are we arguing about the British flag?! We are in Britain! In Greece they have their flag everywhere so do Italy Spain all over Europe.’;
‘This is the exact reason the country is on its a**e. Idiots like this saying a country’s flag is a symbol of hate when actually it’s the wokeness of the country which has made it that way, and the way authorities force things down your throat.’
But there were viewers who agreed that the flag has been latched onto by the far right, making its usage now problematic.
They wrote: ‘It’s not being patriotic though is it? We all know why it’s happening.’
‘Interesting debate. Unfortunately though there is no doubt that the St George’s flag especially has been latched onto by far right fake patriot groups and used as their banner to spread hate.
‘I’d love the country to reclaim its flag from those people.’;
‘In this instance they’re being flown as a deliberately act of racist provocation by the far right, who sadly have claimed the flag as theirs.
‘Why is a national flag required at a protest about migrant hotels? Doesn’t mean though flags are inherently racist & cant ever be flown [sic].’
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays on ITV1 from 6am and is available to stream on ITVX.
