I’ve represented both England and Great Britain at endurance events across Europe, and I can tell you I’ve never felt anything but pride wearing the official kit. The pride I felt wasn’t about hating anyone else; it was about representing values I genuinely associate with the best of this country: fairness, decency, courage, tolerance, humour, respect for others, standing up for the vulnerable, playing by the rules, and treating people as individuals rather than as stereotypes.
That to me, is patriotism. Not shouting at minorities. Not turning victims into political props. Not pretending that waving a flag gives you permission to intimidate people. Real British values should mean equal justice, not selective outrage. They should mean protecting victims, punishing offenders, and refusing to let extremists, whether far right or far left, hijack legitimate anger for their own agenda.
