A leaked draft of the Government's new social cohesion strategy has reportedly branded flying English, Scottish, and Union Jack flags as 'tools of hate'. The document, obtained by The Spectator, suggests that national symbols were used last summer to 'exclude or intimidate' and warns that the 'extreme right has tried to turn symbols of pride into tools of hate'.
The 47-page draft also warns that anti-Semitism has become 'normalised in many corners of society', including schools, universities, workplaces, and the NHS. The proposals include £800 million over ten years for 40 areas where social cohesion is deemed to be 'under pressure'. The finalised plan, titled 'Protecting What Matters', is expected to be unveiled next week.
Government sources have distanced themselves from the draft, stating it was a version never intended for publication and that the controversial wording will not appear in the final report. The leak has drawn sharp criticism from political figures, with Reform UK's deputy leader Richard Tice calling the paper 'divisive nonsense'.
The strategy also proposes a 'special representative' to combat anti-Muslim hatred and a new definition of Islamophobia. Critics, including Shadow Communities Secretary Sir James Cleverly, argue this could act as a backdoor blasphemy law and limit free speech. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government declined to comment on the leak.
