UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood Stirs Controversy Over English Flag Remarks | WATCH
UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has ignited a national debate with controversial comments linking the English flag to the far-right English Defence League (EDL). The remarks, which critics call divisive, highlight tensions over political symbols in a diverse Britain.
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Newly appointed UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has sparked debate with comments linking the English flag to the far-right English Defence League (EDL), stating, “The people you see holding the English flag most of the time down my neck of the woods are the EDL, and they are WHITE, they are MALE, and they are BAD PEOPLE.”
The remarks, made in an interview and reported by The Telegraph on Sept. 5, 2025, reflect her experience in Birmingham Ladywood. Mahmood, a Labour MP and the first female Muslim Home Secretary, took office in 2025 under Sir Keir Starmer, following her tenure as Justice Secretary.
Newly appointed UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has sparked debate with comments
Her statement targets the EDL, formed in 2009 to oppose “Islamic fascism,” though widely criticized as Islamophobic. The English flag, a symbol of national pride, is tied in her view to EDL protests in her diverse constituency.
Critics, including Conservatives, call the remarks divisive, while EDL supporters decry them as stereotyping.
Mahmood’s allies argue they reflect local realities. No official Home Office response has been issued.