Home Secretary Sajid Javid has rejected calls for Britain to fly the national flag above all border posts, where people enter and leave the country, as many other nations do.
The request was sent to Sajid Javid by independent Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Janice Atkinson, who argued it would be a positive sign for people arriving at British sea and airports.
The representative of the South-East region said that, as the United Kingdom approaches Brexit, it would “provide a warm and welcome sign of national embrace for returning and departing UK citizens and act as a reminder that they belong to a patriotic, decent and proud country.”
In a letter to Mr Javid, seen by the Daily Mail, she called for Britain to follow numerous other nations that routinely fly their national flags at ports of entry.
Ms Atkinson argued that now was a particularly important time for such a move, writing: “As we embark on the new and exciting Brexit chapter in our history, I would like to see our Union Flag flown high at our ports of entry, starting at embarkation and continuing into the customs hall…”
She added: “There is nothing jingoistic about welcoming home travellers or sending them off on their travels with a metaphoric hug or wave from the country of which they are citizens.”
However, the Home Office bluntly rejected the idea. In a letter of reply, an official wrote:
“Whilst your suggestion has been noted, we consider it to be for port operators to determine if flags are flown at ports of entry to the UK.”
In response, the pro-Brexit group Get Britain Out tweeted: “Why are the political class so reluctant to show a bit of patriotism?!?!”
Last year, a leading British hospital ordered some security guards to remove Union flag badges from their stab vests.
The move came after a member of the general public complained to the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust that the badges were “offensive.”
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