It’s not ugly (it reminds me of British Airways, if anything), but there’s a loud, post-Brexit insecurity to the prevalence of the flag. At least they ditched the Tory-era plan to redraw the BR arrow logo in the style of the cross on the Union Jack (though maybe Farage will revive it to distract from whatever looting his goons will be doing).
What’s insecure about using the British flag on a British state owned railway?
It feels like a forced sense of pride. If anything the British national railway should be a national symbol in and of itself, it shouldn’t need to be propped up by the union flag. I don’t hate the design either by the way, but it seems heavy-handed.
Any idiot can use the union jack in a logo. And they do.
I dont entirely hate it and theres an argument the state should make the flag mean something by using it. I just dont think they can.
Any trust and brand awareness they build up can be undermined immediately by someone using almost identical branding to sell soggy cardboard sandwiches outside the station.
but there’s a loud, post-Brexit insecurity to the prevalence of the flag.
Let’s be fair: the flag in various designs has been on many many brands and markings well before Brexit. Perhaps it’s a case that you just happened to notice it more after Brexit? What’s that phenomenon called? Baader–Meinhof or something like that?
No, this is a thing. It started with yank-style flag pins, then Tory ministers making sure they never had a photo taken in their office without a big flag over their shoulder. Then they stuck a flag on the drivers’ licence for the first time. (Having fought Brussels for yonks to avoid putting it on the licence plate). Then there was the obsession with “Great”. Not “British Rail” or “British Energy”, Great British Railways and Great British Energy.
ministers making sure they never had a photo taken in their office without a big flag over their shoulder.
This happened all over the world. Not just the UK. Have a look at any EU country where they proudly showcase bothe their nation’s flag as well as the EU one “over their shoulder”. I suppose they’re also wrong 😄?
But it started happening here only after Brexit. It’s a deliberate lurch to the right and nationalism. It can get stuffed. Utterly transparent and performative. Something foreigners might go for but alien to Britain.
😅 this is going to turn into a “what have the Romans ever done for us” sketch, right?
We never used to use flags before Brexit
Here’s us using flags before Brexit.
Well apart from that…
Edit: Here’s Gordon Brown’s 2009 Labour Party conference speech where he discussed Brexit related border checks on foreign workers using his now infamous “Red White and Blue, a Brexit that works for you” catch phrase.
It’s not ugly (it reminds me of British Airways, if anything), but there’s a loud, post-Brexit insecurity to the prevalence of the flag. At least they ditched the Tory-era plan to redraw the BR arrow logo in the style of the cross on the Union Jack (though maybe Farage will revive it to distract from whatever looting his goons will be doing).
What’s insecure about using the British flag on a British state owned railway?
It feels like a forced sense of pride. If anything the British national railway should be a national symbol in and of itself, it shouldn’t need to be propped up by the union flag. I don’t hate the design either by the way, but it seems heavy-handed.
Some people are never happy
I never said I wasn’t happy
We already know what country we’re in.
Whats it communicating? State ownership?
Any idiot can use the union jack in a logo. And they do.
I dont entirely hate it and theres an argument the state should make the flag mean something by using it. I just dont think they can.
Any trust and brand awareness they build up can be undermined immediately by someone using almost identical branding to sell soggy cardboard sandwiches outside the station.
Let’s be fair: the flag in various designs has been on many many brands and markings well before Brexit. Perhaps it’s a case that you just happened to notice it more after Brexit? What’s that phenomenon called? Baader–Meinhof or something like that?
No, this is a thing. It started with yank-style flag pins, then Tory ministers making sure they never had a photo taken in their office without a big flag over their shoulder. Then they stuck a flag on the drivers’ licence for the first time. (Having fought Brussels for yonks to avoid putting it on the licence plate). Then there was the obsession with “Great”. Not “British Rail” or “British Energy”, Great British Railways and Great British Energy.
This happened all over the world. Not just the UK. Have a look at any EU country where they proudly showcase bothe their nation’s flag as well as the EU one “over their shoulder”. I suppose they’re also wrong 😄?
But it started happening here only after Brexit. It’s a deliberate lurch to the right and nationalism. It can get stuffed. Utterly transparent and performative. Something foreigners might go for but alien to Britain.
It absolutely did not start here only after Brexit, and it’s absolutely not alien to Britain.
God forbid the state rail company uses state branding.
You’re right. Here’s Tony Blair and George Bush Junior discussing plans for Iraq post Brexit draped with flags 🥲.
Edit: And here’s Blair and Japan’s Abe discussing post Brexit trade deals being overrun by flags 🤣.
A bad faith comment because you can’t possibly think moments of international diplomacy are the same.
😅 this is going to turn into a “what have the Romans ever done for us” sketch, right?
Edit: Here’s Gordon Brown’s 2009 Labour Party conference speech where he discussed Brexit related border checks on foreign workers using his now infamous “Red White and Blue, a Brexit that works for you” catch phrase.
Just because the rest of the world does something it doesn’t mean we should be doing it too. It has been noticed as a new trend.