Singer and activist Billy Bragg has urged people to celebrate shared values and identity this St George’s Day, calling for resistance against "hateful division". He is supporting a campaign promoting unity ahead of England’s patron saint’s day this Thursday.
This initiative follows community anxiety last summer concerning the flying of St George’s and Union flags, sparked by an online campaign, "Operation Raise The Colours", which became contentious.
Consequently, several local authorities removed them from public infrastructure. While some politicians decried these removals, others contended that the increased number of flags being flown was a result of 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, with the launch of a “virtual pocket museum” of beloved and notable objects, people or events symbolising Englishness.
From Cornish pasties to Shakespeare, and the Magna Carta to Marmite, 3,000 ideas from members of the public were whittled down to 50 which feature in the pocket museum in the form of a deck of cards, wall posters, tea towels and T-shirts.
There will also be giant outdoor screen projections at Toynbee Hall in Aldgate, in London’s East End, telling “The story of England 2026 in 50 objects”, as part of the campaign which is run by social enterprise Grow Social Capital with the support of the Jo Cox Foundation’s More in Common and other social cohesion groups.
Bragg, who last month took part in a demonstration in London 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 said: “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.”
Separately, research for the British Future think tank suggested four in 10 people in England (39%) said they would not display an England flag for fear of appearing to support the far right.
The survey, carried out by Focaldata in February 2026, used a nationally representative sample of 2,426 adults in England, including 684 respondents from an ethnic minority background.
The majority (81%) of those surveyed agreed that they disliked it when the English flag is 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.”
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