'As long as it's being flown': We asked West Midlands residents which way is the correct way up for the Union Flag - and their answers were surprising
West Midlands residents have had their guesses at which way is the correct way to fly our national UK flag.
Union Jack flags and St George's flags adorn hundreds and possibly thousands of streets and roundabouts across the West Midlands as a national debate over immigration and asylum seeker hotels continues.
They have been hard to miss in the last few weeks, with national headlines periodically naming new streets, roads and regions where residents have raised the colours.
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However, if you're like me, you may have asked yourself, 'Why are some of these upside down?'
A shock to many that we asked, the national flag of the UK - called the Union Jack (if flown at sea), or otherwise known as the Union Flag (if on land) - isn't quite symmetrical, and on closer inspection, some unknowing residents were surprised to find that the diagonal red and white lines are different sizes and positions.
On a correctly flown flag, the half of the flag nearest to the top corner of the flagpole should show a wider diagonal white stripe above the red diagonal stripe.
While it seems like a minor inconvenience, a Union Flag flown upside down is seen as disrespectful by many who represented the country at war and is a symbol used when the country is in a state of peril.
So, with this in mind, we visited Wolverhampton city centre to ask residents whether they could correctly guess the correct way to fly the flag, and their thoughts when seeing an incorrectly flown colours.
Steve Bradburn, from Wolverhampton, guessed incorrectly when shown two images of the flag; he said that more education should be given about the flag.
He said: "When I was younger, we would sing the national anthem and hymns in school, and we were brought up to be patriotic. I don't think we are raised to be that proud anymore.
"I don't think flying the flag is about racism. It's actually about pride in where we are from and our inclusivity."
Among those to guess correctly were Lucy Richards and Liz Melia, from Bilston, who said: "I remember it was something to do with the white and red lines. It was a bit of a guess.
"I think it's nice to see the flag. But it's all about intent. If it's flown to show inclusivity and it's not malicious, then it's nice."
Out of the seven people we asked throughout the day, five gave wrong answers, while only two got it right.
Barbara O'Connor, 84, from Wolverhampton, also got it wrong, she said: "I think people should know more about the flag.
"I don't really know if I can fly one, to be honest, I'm not too sure about the law or the rules. But I don't think orientation matters, as long as it's being flown."
Some we asked said that the incorrect flags were either 'making a statement', or showed 'false patriotism'.
Lisa Palmer, 43, of Walsall Wood, who also got it wrong, said: "I didn't know it could be flown the wrong way. But I'm not very patriotic in all honesty.
"I guess it could be quite disrespectful. People have died for the flag. I don't know if people are making a statement with it. But if you're saying you're a 'true patriot' and then flying the flag upside down, then I don't know, maybe it's false patriotism."
Do you think it matters which way the national flag is flown? Share your comments below.
