Singer and activist Billy Bragg has called on the public to celebrate shared values and identity this St George's Day, urging resistance against "hateful division." He is backing a campaign promoting unity ahead of England's patron saint's day on Thursday.
The initiative follows community anxiety last summer over the flying of St George's and Union flags, sparked by the contentious online campaign "Operation Raise The Colours." Several local authorities subsequently removed flags from public infrastructure. While some politicians condemned these removals, others argued that the increased flag displays were rooted in xenophobia or racism.
Bragg, alongside former Conservative MP Sir Sajid Javid, is supporting a new campaign encouraging English people to celebrate what they share in common. The campaign launches a "virtual pocket museum" featuring beloved and notable objects, people, or events symbolising Englishness. From Cornish pasties to Shakespeare, the Magna Carta to Marmite, 3,000 public suggestions were narrowed to 50, presented as a deck of cards, wall posters, tea towels, and T-shirts.
Bragg, who last month participated in a London demonstration against the far right, said: "St George's Day should be a day for celebrating the positive things we have in common – a day for recognising the sense of community that comes from the identity and values that we share in this place called England. Through listening to each other, we can find that common ground from which to resist hateful division."
Sir Sajid added: "St George's Day is a great day to celebrate what we all have in common. When people talk about what they value, what they trust, and what they share, it becomes easier to build understanding. I'm glad my suggestions of the local bobby and war memorials made the final cut."
Giant outdoor screen projections at Toynbee Hall in Aldgate, London's East End, will tell "The story of England 2026 in 50 objects" as part of the campaign run by social enterprise Grow Social Capital, supported by the Jo Cox Foundation's More in Common and other social cohesion groups.
Separately, research by the British Future think tank indicated that four in 10 people in England (39%) would not display an England flag for fear of appearing to support the far right. The survey, conducted by Focaldata in February 2026 using a nationally representative sample of 2,426 adults in England (including 684 from ethnic minority backgrounds), found that 81% agreed they disliked the English flag being linked to racism or used to intimidate minorities.
Sunder Katwala, British Future director, said: "We've seen this year how national symbols can polarise opinion: some see flags on lampposts as expressing national pride while others intend or perceive a more prejudiced message. Those arguments can overshadow what most people agree on. We should be able to celebrate England's past, present and future – and we do that best when we express pride without prejudice, inviting everybody who calls England home to feel part of St George's Day."
