In the last two weeks I have noticed something on my commutes. Union Jack and St George’s flags appearing on bridges as I drive down the motorways.
Given the recent rise in Islamophobia, Anti-Semitism and a general wave of hate towards non-locals (as the fast growing Far Right white English youths are calling immigrants, even those born in the UK) it took me under 10 seconds to put 2 and 2 together. This is some kind of publicity stunt to rile nationalist sentiment and show non-white people in the UK that “This is England”.
I have lived here since I was 7. My father had studied in the UK in the 70s and we had to move here due to the Gulf war in 1990. Unlike a lot of the immigrants that came in between 2000 and 2016 though, my father was qualified with a Doctorate in Biochemistry amongst a plethora of mentions in Who’s Who in the world in the 80s for his work with other scientists in what would lead to the discovery of the HIV virus and AIDS.
My father had never asked for benefits and worked two jobs for 15 years, looking after me and my brother after our parents divorced (mum had an affair, dad found out). Why do I mention this ? Because of the irony of the current movement pushing forth the anti-immigration rhethoric.
The same people who voted BREXIT a decade too late were now realising the ridiculous open door policy the UK had for a long time. But the damage BREXIT would seek to minimise had already been done. Immigration from Eastern and Southern Europe had already saturated the major cities and the South East especially, eventually leading to the rental and housing crisis where demand outstripped supply and we find ourselves with HMOs in London where rooms are rented for £1000 a month (that’s right, for a room in a house share).
That fact however seems lost on a lot of these people who will point out that they want to stop ‘Islamistisation’ of England and London. Well, I don’t think many Muslims were coming from Europe but then again intelligence is not quite the ‘forte’ of such people. A lot of the current social media algorithm seems to focus on anti-Islamic posts, showing, perhaps, certain areas of the country where large Muslim communities had formed but doing so in a dishonest way to make it seem much bigger than it is.
For example, videos will be taken on a Friday (the holy day for Muslims much like the Shabbath for Jews or Sunday for Christians) and then have some ridiculous caption on the reel such as “Look what has become of London/England” “Invaders have taken over”. And these types of posts are endless. Between X and youtube and Instagram you only need to like 3-4 reels spouting the anti Islamic hate to then have constant recommendations on similar content.
It is completely understandable, as someone who is a naturalised citizen and has seen some of the negative impact of immigration, to be concerned about uncontrolled immigration. I have seen droves of Indians and Africans slowly settle into areas and they keep segregated, opening stores for their cultures’ wares, only speaking their language (you have people who lived in London for 30 years who still cannot speak English, for example). A lot of these are economic migrants and part of the problem with that is their core interest is making more money to have a better life for their families. That is fine however it robs an important aspect of immigration’s contributions, cultural exchange. It is all well and good to display your ethnic culture but you also need to absorb some of the culture of your host country.
The English like to queue, is a old joke oft repeated but it does hold quite some truth. That is a good thing. Following the rules, tidiness in the streets (residential and commercial) being polite and maintaining order are some of the nicest aspects of living in England. A lot of immigrants bring their chaotic way of doing things to England and hold some sort of entitlement doing so. Breaking the rules, being inconsiderate (whether seen from how they drive to park to conduct themselves in public transport) littering, the list goes on.
I can tell you as someone who emigrated here, I do not want people like that. Sorry. My Dad raised me right and taught me how to be polite, classy, clean and intelligent. I think a lot of this has to do with where the immigrants are coming from.
A lot are from poor social economic classes. They might not be greatly educated. They will carry on habits formed in their original country over here in England, especially when they congregate and settle in certain areas.
Go to Whitechapel for example in London which is a high % Bengladeshi and compare it to, say, Chiswick or South Kensington. The difference is night and day. One place has litter everywhere, seems chaotic busy has a lot of social housing and feels unsafe whereas the latter is the complete opposite. Clean, bright, busy but in a metropolitan way, but can be too busy when its tourist season.
Flying flags and patriotism is fine. Heck i’d encourage it. We need more unity. However the idiots spray painting a red cross onto zebra crossings to make St George’s flags to try and make a point are only hurting their cause. Why vandalise? Oh yeah, 87% of the prison population is actually white, English. You have to remember how large the numbers are when it comes to white English benefit claimants. These are the same people complaining that their (non-existant) jobs are going to foreigners.
You know the type, wears a primark Cotton vest, smokes cannabis and day drinks. Uses his hard earned benefits money to buy and sell drugs to maintain his habits. Beats their girlfriend when she doesn’t do as she’s told. Yeah there’s loads of them. Worse yet, the internet has given these neanderthals a means to shout and shout loudest, that somehow the country has been taken over by brown people and Muslims.
Stay awake people. Be proud, be patriotic but don’t be a Stella drinking, wife beating, coke sniffing loser reposting Tommy Robinson or Douglas Murray hasbara, thinking your country’s gone to shit just because of Immigration. It’s gone to shit because governments never have and never will actually give a flying fuck about making our lives easier or better. When you realise no matter which side you’re on, it is the ruling, upper class that will always reap the rewards, you may start to actually find allies in those you are taught to despise.






