From Laura G

Monday, 9 June 2025

Surely, that's up to the individual businesses who can do whatever they like with their property.

From Kevin S

Wednesday, 11 June 2025

I think the flags are a great addition to the square on a windy day. It's great seeing them all blowing and brightening up the shop fronts.

From Gail A

Thursday, 12 June 2025

The flags should come down. Not only are they all upside down, Hebden Bridge is not that kind of town. Unless there is a sporting fixture, or a remembrance of war then they should not be up. It's pandering to the far right and Reform voters which is decidedly not of the town. I'd encourage others, as I have, to put pressure on the shop owners to remove them.

From Gillian MH

Saturday, 14 June 2025

Agreed. The flags need to come down. Sad truth is they have come to represent a strand of faux patriotism that many people in the town find repugnant. I'm happy to tolerate them when they are flown to celebrate a particular event, but the rest of the time they scream of jingoists, Farage and the march of the far right and that is so not Hebden Bridge.

From John G

Wednesday, 2 July 2025

I feel physically sick, Having just returned from Greece, the amount of Greek flags was unbelievable. How dare the Greek people fly the Greek flag in Greece, the vast majority of them are surely extremely right wing.

From Hazza G

Thursday, 3 July 2025

That's a great response  John G - it made me laugh and highlighted very effectively the pompous nature of the previous posts. So not Hebden Bridge! 

The tone of the posts complaining about the flags bothered me. 'Putting pressure on businesses to remove them' - isn't that bullying? Just because they don't think the same way as you do? Not a very inclusive approach - something which I thought Hebden Bridge had always prided itself. 

I wonder if Gail A is the same person who wants to 'make Hebden Bridge nice again'? Perhaps we could start by not dictating whether and when people can display the Union flag, and by truly accepting all aspects of diversity and inclusivity, even when we don't agree with them. 

From Claire K

Thursday, 3 July 2025

The union flag has long ceased to represent the whole of the UK and for many people it has become a symbol both of right-wing extremists, and racism and colonialism. Which is why in Hebden Bridge and elsewhere, flying it is always going to be controversial, and seen as provocative. To repeat the words of Banksy, "People who enjoy waving flags don't deserve to have one."

From Laura G

Thursday, 3 July 2025

I see your point Claire but equally there are many people who see the flag as just a flag…

I've just been to Haworth and seen lots of them on all kinds of shops, churches etc . I don't think Haworth is a hotbed of right wing extremism.

If we are to start banning anything that some people find provocative or controversial then where does that lead us? 

Surely as an open and welcoming community we should accept that although not all opinions are universally acceptable to all we recognise and support the right to express them .  

From Heather Morgan

Thursday, 3 July 2025

I was offended to see a Palestine flag in the square today, and a person wearing a Palestine action T-shirt. What has Palestine got to do with Hebden Bridge?

From Elly E

Saturday, 5 July 2025

Because, in case you haven't noticed, there's a genocide going on in Palestine and Hebdenians, like everyone else in the world, have a duty to call it out and do whatever they can to raise awareness.

From T Smith

Monday, 7 July 2025

If your national flag has been appropriated by the Far Right, then it is probably a good idea to take it back from them. This is what Liam Gallagher and Patsy Kensit (along with Ginger Spice) did in the 90s, and what, more recently, Gareth Southgate has done for the England flag.