Many residents have written to me regarding the sudden appearance of English and British national flags on lampposts around Southampton, so I would like to take the opportunity to give my thoughts on this. 

Whether it’s the St. George’s Flag or the Union Flag, these national flags belong to all of us, not to any one group or cause. That’s why as an MP, I am happy displaying the British flag on any literature I put out, or that goes out from the Labour Party. Our flags can and should be a symbol of our shared history, values, pride and belonging, which is why it’s nothing new that flags fly from buildings across Southampton and the country on an ongoing basis. Therefore, simply flying either of our national flags should not necessarily be seen as an act of exclusion or division.  

However, no-one can pretend that the display of flags around the city is a spontaneous outpouring of national pride; it must be seen in the context of those who have recently started gathering and protesting about immigration policy outside of hotels where asylum seekers currently stay. On that basis, I can understand why the display of these flags may feel unsettling to some in our community.  

For those who intend the display of national flags as a form of intimidation or as a convenient tool to express anti-immigration attitudes, this must be rejected. And where acts of outright hate, vandalism or anti-social behaviour take place, I expect the usual rules to apply: witnesses should report these, and the local police and authorities should act. Aggression distorts real patriotism and insults the values our flags represent. 

The Council has confirmed that unless any flag is obstructing views on highways or creating health and safety risks, they do not intend to remove them. This is to avoid escalating tensions and giving bad faith actors the provocation they are seeking. Removing the flags could risk legitimising their arguments and increasing division locally, as has been evident on social media over the last few days. 

At the same time, the Council has made clear, and I share this view, that Southampton is a city of sanctuary. Work is ongoing with community and faith leaders to reassure residents that the city’s values are rooted in respect and inclusivity. I firmly believe that this is what true British values look like.  

Southampton is a proud and diverse city, and it is important that everyone feels welcome and safe in shared public spaces. We should celebrate the fact that Southampton has welcomed generations of immigrants, each group adding to the strength and diversity of this city and making a valuable contribution to our local community and economy.  

However, I know that for some of my constituents, regardless of which party they support, there are concerns about the high levels of immigration the country has experienced over the last few years. That is why in our first year as a Labour government, we have taken clear steps to deal with the broken system we inherited. This includes new deals with France and Germany to crack down on smuggling gangs, the establishment of a £100 million Border Security Command, extra funding for enforcement agencies, the introduction of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, and halving the number of asylum hotels.  

Obviously, these issues are complex, multi-faceted, and will take time to fix. But like many others, I want to see a fair immigration system that works, which includes reducing the use of hotels for asylum seekers, and I support the Government’s commitment to phasing out their use by the end of the Parliament.  

I will continue to stay in close touch with the Council on how this issue is developing locally, and I will ensure that community concerns like yours are heard.  

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