The Bunker – News without the nonsense Flag Wars – Inside this summer's political minefield with Jonn Elledge
Sep 10, 2025
Jonn Elledge, a keen journalist and author of The Compendium of (Not Quite) Everything, dives into the sea of flags appearing across Britain. Are these displays of patriotism or culture-war stunts? He explores the tangled web of identity politics, revealing how symbols like the Union Jack and St George's Cross can unite and divide. The conversation touches on vandalism as a form of political expression and the struggles of navigating national identity in today’s diverse society, reflecting on the complexities of pride and accountability.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Flags As Organised Political Signals
- St George's Cross flags appearing widely may be part of organised campaigns tied to far-right groups, not just spontaneous patriotism.
- Jonn Elledge warns donations to schemes like Operation Raise the Colours can fund extremist groups.
Political Flag-Waving Often Rings False
- Politicians posing with flags is intended to normalise flag-waving but often appears insincere and clumsy.
- Jonn Elledge says Keir Starmer's flag efforts look inauthentic and fail as political strategy.
British Flags Are Cultural Icons, Not Sacred
- Britain uses flags more as iconography or ironic fashion than as reverential national symbols like the US or France.
- Jonn Elledge notes the Union Jack appears widely in culture, reducing its solemn national meaning.
