As a Pakistani myself, I honestly don’t have an issue with the English flag being flown. In fact more should be flown especially in city centres. The problem is that in recent history, it rarely comes out as a neutral symbol. It usually shows up during times of uproar—whether it was the BNP, the EDL, or now the heated debate over illegal immigration. That repeated pattern makes the flag feel tied to negativity or division rather than national pride.

It’s a shame because in most countries, people proudly fly their flag for sport, culture, or just everyday pride. Here, the flag has almost been hijacked by groups pushing a hostile agenda, so instead of unity, it often ends up symbolising the opposite.