I thought mourning the Queen would be a personal choice – until I saw the billboards | Billy Bragg

As I drove away from Winchester service station, I realised a long-planned campaign was being put into action‘The two dark sentinels standing guard at Winchester on that September night seemed to silently insist that, before entering, we bow our heads in respect of a version of our national story’‘The two dark sentinels standing guard at Winchester on that September night seemed to silently insist that, before entering, we bow our heads in respect of a version of our national story’Last...

Stopping for coffee at Winchester services on the M3, I got my first taste of the mood that would come to dominate the following days. Either side of the entrance to the food hall, the video billboards that usually advertised the delights available within now showed a portrait of the Queen, alternating with her royal cypher and her dates, 1926-2022. I took a photo and sent it to my brother-in-law.

Patriotism chafes against this trend. Resistant to change, reliant on conformity, it takes pride in immutable symbols and institutions, such as the flag and the armed forces, and prizes assimilation over diversity. While inclusivity presents as an invitation, patriotism is at best an expectation and at worse a demand. Are you with us or against us?

It still is

Poor Billy Bragg. Sounds like he accidentally ending up listening to one of his own albums in September and has been asleep since. Glad he has woken up, pretty sure he won't make that mistake again.

Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Even great Emily Blunt tiring of Hollywood's yas-queen female leadsToday's screenwriters no longer know to create nuanced and flawed female characters, choosing instead to peddle us tedious, girl-boss super-heroines, writes Nicholas Sheppard. Hollywood movies 🍿 guaranteed Bum Numbers a waste of 90 minutes 🤯
Source: SkyNewsAust - 🏆 7. / 78 Read more »

Royal Australian Mint adds secret detail to new Queen coins - a first in AustraliaIt’s believed Buckingham Palace has approved the ‘surprising’ new move. 7NEWS Charles in drag. Maltese cross? Hah?
Source: 7NewsSydney - 🏆 16. / 63 Read more »

Design for Queen Elizabeth II commemoration coin releasedThe design for a coin commemorating Queen Elizabeth II's death has finally been unveiled, with the collectables to be circulated in Australia from January 1. 9News
Source: 9NewsAUS - 🏆 10. / 72 Read more »

Australian Mint to release final coin featuring Queen Elizabeth IIThe Royal Australian Mint has released the design of the final coin to feature Queen Elizabeth II - with one stark difference. Just hurry up and ditch all the parasites and bludgers
Source: SkyNewsAust - 🏆 7. / 78 Read more »

Camilla reveals she has picked some 'nice pieces' from charity shopsThe Queen Consort has revealed she has an eye for a bargain while visiting a homeless charity store in south London to learn about its plans to create women-only spaces. Stands to reason, that's where Charlie found her... Cry even harder Lefties 😅 Tight arse 😂
Source: SkyNewsAust - 🏆 7. / 78 Read more »

‘This will look lovely in Balmoral!’ Why Camilla loves a charity-shop bargainIf you’ve got a home to furnish, you could do a lot worse than Emmaus in south London. Just make sure you get there before the queen consort Is it the skin of a baby fur seal? Just more BS public relations by the royal spinners. Trying to make someone who has over a 100 servants seem frugal.
Source: GuardianAus - 🏆 1. / 98 Read more »