Displaying items by tag: community division

A surge in flag-flying across Blackley, north Manchester, has sparked fierce debate about patriotism, immigration, and racism. England and Union Jack flags now line lamp posts and homes, part of a wider campaign called 'Raising The Colours’. Supporters argue it is a proud display of national identity and frustration with government failures on illegal migration, insisting the flags are not racist. Don and Anne Lees, who joined the movement, said it made them 'proud to be English’. Yet critics see the campaign as intimidating, echoing past racial tensions. One resident compared the masked men who put up flags at night to the far right of the 1970s, warning that Polish neighbours might feel threatened. While some shopkeepers welcome the extra sales, others worry that it risks division. Labour MP Graham Stringer said patriotism has deep roots in Blackley and insisted national flags 'shouldn’t feel threatening’, urging people not to see them as owned by extremists. Rising asylum numbers and strained services fuel the controversy.

Epping, a historic Essex town, remains divided following ten days of protests outside the Bell Hotel, which houses asylum seekers. Tensions erupted after an Ethiopian resident was charged with sexual assault, prompting both peaceful demonstrations and violent clashes. Smoke flares, injuries to police, and arrests followed, with far-right figures reported among the protestors. While some locals insist the protests were motivated by child safety concerns, not race, others fear Epping is being manipulated by outsiders stirring hate. A growing police presence and physical barriers now surround the hotel, with more demonstrations expected. Local MP Dr Neil Hudson has urged the government to close the hotel and condemned violence as 'deeply troubling.' Residents voice mixed views - some fearful and disturbed, others dismissing the unrest as exaggerated by the media. The charity Hope Not Hate warns that far-right groups are exploiting community tensions to spread division. Amid growing anxiety and fractured public opinion, many call for the legal process to be respected and for peace to be restored to the community.