People living in a UK country do not at the moment have a flag they can use on their smartphones, according to an exclusive report. Some Brits do not have a flag to use on their phones.
No Northern Ireland Flag Emoji
If you want to mention a nation of the United Kingdom with something other than words on your smartphone, Google and Apple have ensured English, Scottish, Welsh and Union Flag emojis are available to use. Even the Isle of Man's flag is there. There is also, of course, the Irish tricolour. However, if you are from Northern Ireland, there is no flag that you can send.
Reform UK MP Robert Jenrick said: “This is an embarrassing oversight that should be corrected immediately. Brits in Northern Ireland deserve to have their distinct identity recognised in the same way as the English, Welsh and Scots.”
The Express contacted Google and Apple for comment. The Government did not comment, but the Express understands that there is no official flag for Northern Ireland. The Ulster Banner – an heraldic banner taken from the Northern Ireland's former coat of arms, consisting of a St. George's Cross with a white star, red hand and crown upon it, is sometimes referred to as the country's unofficial flag.
User Complaints
In 2020, an iPhone user asked on Apple's community forum: "Why can’t I find my national flag in my mobile application or on my smart phone?" An answer read: "For concerns about the emoji and flag symbols available in any particular application or mobile platform, please contact the manufacturer. Their software determines what characters are available on your device." The customer added: "Northern Ireland has 1 flag, also known as the Ulster Banner. It’s may not be official but it is recognised by both sides of the community. Even the celebrities recognise it, ie Rory McIlroy."
Another user wrote: "If Stormont could agree on a flag, you would probably get its emoji in standard fonts. Now that it's back after 3 years absence, it may be possible..."
In 2021, a user wrote in a Google forum: "Will Google make the emoj flag for Northern Ireland/Ulster. Has a right to be there."
A Reddit user wrote a year ago that the tech firms need to release a flag emoji for Northern Ireland. "I don’t even know anybody in Northern Ireland nor do I even live in Europe, but I still want the emoji flag," they added. This was in a conversation below a post which read: "Why Don't we Have a Northern Ireland Flag? I know the official Flag is the UK flag but im Talking about the Ulster Banner which the team uses in Football." Another user replied: "You sort of do but almost no platform implements what are called “subdivision flags” for most places. And of course, it’s not the official flag." The initial poster wrote back: "Yes, i did say up there it is the UK flag the official but im still wondering why? England has it, Wales has it. Scotland Has it."
