Nigel Farage praised Raise the Colours at Reform UK’s conference and offered legal help. Two days later founder Ryan Bridge was charged with 14 offences, including racially aggravated public-order allegations and common assault. The charges are unproven and proceedings are active. But the sequence raises a bigger question about political validation, patriotism and who benefits when grievance is wrapped in the flag.

Flags can be expressions of pride. They can also become political branding. The question is not whether people may fly them, but who is organising the campaign, who pays for it and what supporters are being asked to buy into. There is nothing inherently sinister about flying a Union flag or a St George’s Cross. Millions of people do it because they are proud of where they live, because of sport, family history, military service or simple affection for the.

Is Raise the Colours losing momentum? As crowds appear smaller, perhaps people are beginning to question whether grassroots movements can sustain themselves once the novelty fades. When donations, merchandise and memberships become part of the model, where does activism end and business begin? Raise the Colours appeared to arrive everywhere at once. Flags, street activity and viral social-media posts turned a local campaign into something presented as a.