Should Britain keep the Union Flag flying?
People living outside Great Britain may well be mystified by this question. In just about every other country the national flag is displayed from practically every suitable vantage point by patriotic citizens and P R conscious organizations. Only the British seem to have angst about their own flag; or at least some of them do. How has this come about? The current flag dates from 1801, when the red diagonal cross of the flag of St Patrick, on a white background, was incorporated into the earlier design. This was a red St George’s Cross on a white background superimposed on the white diagonal cross of St Andrew with a blue background. Thus three national flags were incorporated into one. (Patrick-Ireland, Andrew-Scotland, George-England). This flag was originally a Royal Flag, ordered to be flown on royal buildings but not elsewhere. Its public display was limited from the start. Nowadays, the flying of this flag on public buildings is decided by the Department of Culture, Media and Spor
