Is the St. George's Cross racist?

English and British flags are popping up all over the country. Seán, an Irishman, and Laura, a Scot, discuss who's flying these flags and why.

From football stadiums to government buildings to asylum hotels, British and English flags have become symbols charged with very different meanings depending on where you see them. The two explore why some people view the Union Jack as a unifying emblem, while others see the St George’s Cross as a marker of exclusion, anger, and far right politics.

Drawing comparisons with Northern Ireland, they discuss the 'Ulsterisation' of Britain, and how flags can be used to carve out territory, define in-groups and out-groups, and foster a siege mentality. They ask whether England has ever really answered the question of what its flag stands for, or if that vacuum has allowed extremist groups to hijack national symbols.

The conversation also touches on Brexit, migrant hotel protests, and Nigel Farage’s new mass deportation plan; all set against the backdrop of a culture where flags increasingly signify political allegiance rather than shared pride.

Are flags inherently racist? Or is it the meaning we attach to them that makes them so divisive? And can patriotism exist without tipping into nationalism?

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