REMEMBER the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations – that glorious, halcyon weekend of June 2022?
When Doris and Co proudly displayed their bunting while yummy coronation chicken-filled picnics coursed through the streets, Pimm’s was quaffed and, for a glorious 48 hours, a sense of optimism and delight pulsated through Great Britain.
AlamyNever has this once-proud nation been so divided over the flag of St George[/caption]
GettyActor Ray Winstone has waded into the flag debate[/caption]
Three years on, Doris would be written off as a tattoo-sporting, migrant-hating, right-wing racist.
Because never has this once-proud nation been so divided over the flag of St George.
Now Ray Winstone has waded in.
The no-nonsense actor, a rare voice of common sense in a country that is increasingly non- commonsensical, has hit the nail on the head.
Asked for his thoughts about whether people should be encouraged to display their flags, he replied: “Why shouldn’t they?
“Listen, every country I go to in the world have their flags up.
“And you’re not called a nationalist or a socialist or a f***ing Nazi for putting your flag out.
“Everyone else puts their flag up. I don’t see the problem with it; to be proud of your flag, and what that represents.
“This country represents freedom and that flag represents freedom, so why shouldn’t it fly?
“Why should we be chastised by our own Government for flying the flag?
“Jesus Christ, the Queen flew one.
“This is our country, this is the flag of our country. We should be proud of that. We should be proud of what this country’s achieved.”
Thank you, Ray.
Indeed, the late Queen, poor soul, was endlessly wheeled out to meet and greet various dictators and monsters over the years.
She was also pictured several times smilingly bearing her Union Flag.
But today, we live in different times. Divisive times. Now the flag, any flag, is an incendiary bone of contention.
‘Push back against the crazies’
Flags were put up a few months ago to cheer on the Lionesses at the Euros. Now they are seen, by some, as an emblem of extremism.
The Lionesses’ penalty-scoring hero Chloe Kelly boasted of her pride in her country, saying: “I’m so proud to be English; we’re English and you can’t write us off.”
Yet much of the hardcore Left HAS written us off.
With local authorities increasingly taking flags down, believing they are stirring up hatred — even Durham’s Reform council recently started stripping them, citing health ’n’ safety — where will this madness end?
To deem yourself a patriot is seen by some as a Bad Thing, a slippery slope to Swastikaland.
The reality is that Brits can be both warmly patriotic and angry about the influx of economic migrants sweeping up on our shores.
We shouldn’t be ashamed of flying the flag. I’m not — and if someone tells me to take it down, I tell them to f off!
Ray Winstone
Ray was speaking backstage at an “intimate evening with royal sculptor Frances Segelman”, in support of a charity for limbless veterans.
So, clearly not a monster. He added: “We shouldn’t be ashamed of flying the flag. I’m not — and if someone tells me to take it down, I tell them to f off!”
Of course, should he actually use such hurty words, we know full well he’ll be greeted by five uniformed police officers, and marched straight down to Charing Cross station.
The topic has attracted comment and debate beyond Britain, with high-profile Americans including Elon Musk — a Reform supporter — posting a St George’s flag on his X feed, and US Vice President JD Vance urging people in the UK to “push back against crazies”.
If only we could be as proud of this fair isle as our international allies are of their countries.
And as proud as Ray Winstone is.
LOVE AN ANIMAL LOVER
RSPCTV presenter Matt Johnson says losing his dog Alan was one of the hardest experiences of his life[/caption]
IF you’re not an animal person, skip this bit.
But if you are, this one’s for you.
In a new survey commissioned by the RSPCA, only one in 14 respondents believes pet grief is taken seriously enough by society.
The charity has now launched a campaign, Not Just A Pet, to help owners navigate grief when they lose a pet.
Cats and dogs CAN be like children to their owners, especially to those without kids or with offspring who have flown the nest.
TV presenter Matt Johnson, fronting the RSPCA initiative, recently lost his rescue pug, Alan (named after Shearer).
He says: “Alan was my boy, my companion and my best friend. Losing him has been one of the hardest experiences of my entire life.
“For me, the grief has been as traumatic as any human loss I have experienced.
“And while not everyone will understand that, it is why I have had to give it the same processes and energy as a human bereavement.”
Exactly this.
MAN UP ON TUBE SIR KEIR
ANOTHER week, another London Tube strike.
This time the lazy, entitled “drivers” (pretty sure they could be replaced by machines) are demanding a 32-hour week, and 75 per cent discount on all rail travel.
At present, Tube drivers – many on over £70k a year – plus one family member or partner get free travel across the entire Transport For London network, including the buses, Tube, Overland, DLR and Elizabeth Line.
(I mean, my family members don’t get free copies of The Sun, and I’m not striking).
Sir Keir and paper-toothed tiger Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, need to prove they’re not in thrall to the unions – and start taking proper action.
After all, as things stand, Tube drivers get an hourly rate on a par with the PM. And that, for all his faults, is a joke.
KEEP TO MUSIC, CHRIS
Coldplay’s Chris Martin invited on stage two fans from IsraelRuckas
CHRIS MARTIN stood accused last week of “dehumanising” Jews.
The Coldplay singer had invited on stage two fans from the audience and asked the girls where they were from, to be told: “Israel”.
It prompted both cheers and boos.
Good ol’ Chris tried to smooth things over, telling the poor pair he would treat them as “equal humans on Earth, regardless of where you come from” – but it prompted claims from Jewish groups that he had dehumanised them.
It’s really very simple: if you’re a pop star or actor, or handy with bat and ball, STICK TO THESE THINGS.
Do not wade into the quagmire of international relations. Ever.
MEME OF THE WEEK
IF Gregg Wallace was ever tempted to screenwrite a biopic of his life, the main character actor is ready and waiting.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you his unlikely looky-likey – The Rock.
The Rock has turned into an unlikely Gregg Wallace lookalikeX/Twitter
Shutterstock EditorialThe Hollywood actor could play Gregg if he was ever tempted to screenwrite a biopic of his life[/caption]
SHOULD we reach the point of MAD, or Mutually Assured Destruction, it’s reassuring to know that while everyone else is safe in their bunker, I will likely be – slam dunk – under Putin’s sneaky little bomb.
Yep, at 3pm sharp on Sunday, as the nation’s phones collectively pinged with the Government’s nationwide emergency alert system, mine played a dog meme on Instagram.
Although, it now turns out, anyone with a remotely old mobile or no 4G or 5G network also missed out.
So that bodes well.
IN completely un-surprising news, the BBC has plumped for two female MasterChef co-hosts in Grace Dent and Anna Haugh.
Banijay UKFemale MasterChef co-hosts Anna Haugh and Grace Dent[/caption]
The only way, presumably, they could guarantee one of their presenters not emerging from the dressing room with a sock on her penis.
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