Why Manchester United legend Gary Neville took down Union Jack flag from his development site

Manchester United legend Gary Neville turned heads recently after revealing that he removed a Union Jack flag from one of his development sites in Manchester.

Cities across Britain have witnessed a steady rise in the appearance of Saint George’s Cross and Union Jack flags that represent England and the United Kingdom respectively in a movement dubbed ‘Operation Raise the Colours’.

While national flags are generally viewed as a symbol of pride across the world, it has left British society divided. It is an act of patriotism for some, but for many others, the movement is linked to the country’s far right and is allegedly meant to fuel anti-immigration sentiment across the UK.

Neville slams ‘angry, middle-aged white men’ in criticism of flag movement

Neville, who represented England in 85 matches in a 12-year international career (1995-2007), put himself in the latter category, claiming the English and UK flags were being “used in a negative fashion” while questioning what it truly means to be patriotic.

In a video posted on Friday, a day after a terrorist attack at a Manchester synagogue left two dead, the footballer-turned-property developer blamed “angry, middle-aged white men … who know exactly what they’re doing” for the ongoing flag movement across the nation while revealing that he took down one such flag at a development site.

“Funnily enough on one of my development sites last week there was a union jack flag put up and I took it down instantly,” said former defender Neville, who represented Manchester United throughout his 19-year senior career.

“Some people might be watching this and thinking: ‘Gary you’re not really patriotic.’ I’ve played for my country 85 times, I love my country, I love Manchester and I love England.

“I’ve been building in this city for 15-20 years, and there’s no one put a Union Jack flag up in 15-20 years, so why do you need to put one up now?” added the 50-year-old, who has been developed properties since the age of 21.

‘We need to check ourselves’

Neville, known for commenting on political and social issues from time to time, added that while Britain remains “one of the greatest places to live”, its citizens needed to pull themselves back to a neutral point instead of being “pulled right and left”.

“The union jack flag used in a negative fashion is not right and I’m a proud supporter of England, of Great Britain, of our country and will champion it anywhere in the world as one of the greatest places to live.

“But I think we need to check ourselves, check ourselves and start to think about bringing ourselves back to a neutral point because we’re being pulled right and left and we don’t need to be pulled right and left at all,” he added.