Letters: If it was about national pride, the England flags would've been flying a long time ago

A Big Issue reader laments that the England flag has been hijacked for far-right causes.

Not my England

If it was national pride, the England flags would have been flying a long time ago and not put up all in one go. Every time there’s a conversation regarding flags, all that is mentioned is immigration, stop the boats, England for the English, blah blah blah. Anybody can see that it’s racist. 

It’s a shame we can’t have pride in our national flag, but the far-right took that away years ago. 

Shetalkstocats, Instagram 

Building blocks

This country has a too-high level of foreign ownership, the City of London likewise (and it was the people’s tax that saved it after the 2008 bank crash). Now, despite high immigration there are fears about the wealthy leaving the country who haven’t helped the poor much or the homeless. Why become a vassal state? 

British companies should not have to pay more taxes than foreign ones. Too many goods are imported from abroad that are lowering standards. Our railways and water supplies are not well managed, seemingly more interested in profit than building up the country. Workers’ attitudes here would improve with decent wages and security of employment.  

It is not beneficial to trade away this country’s assets. Building a better Britain for all, not moaning about the wealthy leaving the country, should be the aim.  

Terence G Springthorpe

Bigly issues

After we vox popped asking what Britain would be like with Donald Trump as prime minister, many of you then shared your thoughts:

I don’t even want to think about it 😕 

Paranoidandroid1967, Instagram 

Even shitter than it currently is… hard as that is to believe, shitter than this is possible (as we will find out if Deform manage to get in). 

Expatscot, Instagram 

10 Downing Street would get a white-and-gold front door. 

Spicksspecks, Instagram 

Would be great. Would knock some sense and fix education. While of course booming the economy.
Mad respect. 

Damocles.4, Instagram 

People are brainwashed. Trump is the best president. 👈👈🙏🙏🙏🥰🥰🥰 

Olaamoran, TikTok

Read more:

• What the wave of St George’s flags across England means for national identity
• ‘Damaging’ housing benefits are leaving low-income renters with nowhere to rent in England
• How Wales is showing the way for England on homelessness with one simple change

Strike out

In Manchester we have just had our first strike by the majority of bus drivers, which left people feeling lost, abandoned, and out of pocket. The drivers have been offered a 3.5% increase, which is a miserable offer when the price of food has increased by 5.1%.

I suspect that across society there will be more strikes to come this winter.

The Labour government needs to start looking after everyone, in work, or out of work, instead of catering to those with money and skills who are able to play the system and avoid paying their share of personal taxation.

Politicians however don’t ever, and won’t ever, listen to the average person. We are just the gullible fools who elected them.

Ged Jarvis, Gorton

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We received this all the way from New York:

Reactions to: A single person must earn at least £30,500 to live well in the UK

It’s getting harder and harder. I find money is tight after the first two weeks of every month; it’s exhausting. 

@grace.m.carter, Instagram 

I live on my own, income slightly more than this – got a mortgage – can’t afford a holiday or to eat out, so is that living well? 

@furrawn07, Instagram 

I’d really love to see more stats which separate big cities. The national figures are important but often don’t reflect a true picture for those living in major cities. 

@jonathan_j80, Instagram 

£30k isn’t enough – a studio flat/one-bed down south is around £1,100 alone! Then there are the bills. After paying everything, you’re left with about £300 for food. What kind of life is that? 😓 

@raqulaaa, Instagram 

I would really like to be able to get a haircut from time to time without fretting about the cost… go to the dentist without having to psych myself up and fear about what if I need anything done… be able to get new glasses without living in poverty for the rest of the month… things like that. Not to mention hobbies. 

@cordelia023, Instagram

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