As the country comes to terms with England’s World Cup drubbing, a familiar ritual is now playing out as a metaphor for the nation’s bruised psyche.
Along with empty cans and mashed-up takeaway boxes, the St George’s flags are coming down – and, it seems, with almost indecent haste. My own neighbour, whose home had been festooned with bunting from the outset, had de-flagged his house before the pubs had even closed.
The next morning, as I drove to work, what had been proud landmarks on my route to the office all but disappeared. Forget a considered lowering of the mast to mark a period of national mourning. Instead, what had been enthusiastic signs of this country’s pride in its national team have, at best, been folded away or – ouch – chucked into a skip alongside other broken dreams and forgotten memorabilia.
It doesn’t need to be this way. If there is one victory to salvage from England’s semi-final exit, it should be the freedom to keep flying our national flag without needing a major sporting occasion to legitimise it.
If the St George’s cross can hang outside pubs, cars, homes and shop windows during the World Cup, why not keep it up? Why should this sign of our national identity come with terms and conditions?
