Two civil servants said they felt “vibes of hate” when walking down the street.
The meeting was called during a grassroots campaign which saw St George flags attached to lampposts (Image: Getty)
Home Office civil servants reportedly confessed to feeling “triggered” by the flag of St George in a meeting where one asked: “Am I in danger?” Staff were invited to a “safe space” where they could open up about “misuse” of the English flag last year.
It came amid a grassroots campaign in Britain which saw Union Jack and St George flags attached to lampposts. The group, Operation Raise the Colours, encouraged people to put up flags. The flag-raising divided opinion, with supporters arguing it was a patriotic display while others condemned the campaign as racist and anti-immigrant.
A leaked recording of the meeting obtained by the independent journalist Steven Edgington, reportedly includes one official telling attendees the flag was “particularly triggering”.
The attendee is reported to have told colleagues that when he sees the St George’s flag: “Am I in danger? Or are my children in danger? … Right now it is particularly triggering.”
Another said: “Being a mixed race person of colour I’ve been finding it extremely difficult… I’ve noticed so many more people now using the flag to try and legitimise refusing immigrants into the country.”
The meeting was reportedly held on September 18 last year and was led by Mark Leslie, a Civil Service Faith Champion in the Home Office’s Public Safety Group.
Mr Edginton reports a white civil servant saying: “It’s a scary time to be a person of colour in the UK right now.” They added: “As a person with white privilege, I can’t speak to my friends’ experiences but I can stand alongside you and be an ally.”
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Two civil servants who described themselves as British Muslims described feeling “vibes of hate” when walking the streets and they feared for their safety.
Another civil servant said he was angry his flags, nationality and heritage were being hijacked by racists and extremists.
News of the meeting led to criticism on social media, where one X-user, tweeting under the name Ramon Agusta, commented: “An entire [department] of woke, incompetent fools”.
Fellow X-user, tweeting under the name Dissenting Citizen, wrote: “These are civil servants working for the British state. The national symbols of the country they serve should not be treated as inherently threatening.
“If our own institutions have become frightened of the English flag, what does that say about our relationship with national identity?”
The Home Office has been approached for comment.