SO WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE UNION JACK?

The Union Flag (or Union Jack as it used to be known) has in recent years been somewhat ignored by the people as a patriotic symbol of the British nation. Until the Queen's golden jubilee (2002), bunting and Union flags were thin on the ground. Suddenly - and for the moment - you can find them without having to hunt for them but this is probably a temporary situation.

Is it that the British lack pride in their nation, or at the very least are complacent when it comes to showing loyalty to their country? We don't think so. But it's seems sad that it takes some sort of conflict or disaster to make us fly that flag.

One of the reasons the far right has been able to use the flag as a symbol of their political beliefs is that just about everybody else in the country has ignored it. Why has it been allowed to become the property of the BNP? Well when did you last see fields of Union flags at Labour, Conservative or Liberal rallies? At Labour rallies you see red flags and flags with red roses, red being the livery of socialism and communism. At Conservative rallies you used to see a representation of the union flag in their corporate style logo but not now just lots of blue? At Lib Dem rallies, everything is orange. And when did you last see Union flags flying from windows as they do in America as a symbol of national unity? When did ordinary people display the flag without being labelled right wing? You can hardly turn around in the USA without coming face to face with the stars and stripes. In France the blue white and red tricolour flies in every Hotel de la Ville. How many town halls in the UK fly the Union flag? Not many I bet. (if anyone knows please email us). Most countries display their national flag with pride. Its as though we are ashamed of it.

The only times the flag is prominent is during football matches, worn and waved by one of our least attractive and most visible exports, football hooligans. Does this gain our flag much respect around the world. You bet your life it does, it says, here come the British hooligans. Batten down your property and get off the streets.

And what about devolution, should it make a difference? No not really. If you're Scottish or Welsh or English, fly your flag with the Union flag alongside. If you're an immigrant come here to settle permanently, again, fly your national flag alongside the Union flag as proof of your loyalty to the country you chose to live in.

We can still be, and should be a Union and have pride in the country. There is strength and dignity in the union. So lets see it and be pround of it. Come on Britain. Claim the flag for the whole nation, not just for a minority of extremists. Fly the flag. And let's see some patriotism from all our political parties, get the flags out and show that you have some pride in being British.