A villager has slammed Oxfordshire \u201cskinheads\u201d as Union and England flags were raised in her area.<\/p>\n
The flags were put up in both Bampton-in-the-Bush and Clanfield last Sunday, February 1, and has provoked a furious reaction from residents.<\/p>\n
Susan Allen who lives in Bampton-in-the-Bush posted in a public village Facebook group on the same evening as the flags were put up.<\/p>\n
READ MORE:<\/strong> Oxfordshire group behind Union Flags will ‘never surrender’<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n She said: \u201cTo the skinheads who arrived in our village with your entourage and your ladder to put up Union Flags, understand this: Union means together. United. One people, bound to each other.\u201d<\/p>\n The hanging of flags on public roads has been a contentious issue since last summer, with supporters saying it is a show of patriotism while critics say it is unsafe, untidy and creates a hostile atmosphere.<\/p>\n In the past few weeks, flags have been raised in Oxford, Carterton, Abingdon, Wantage, Witney and other towns.<\/p>\n Flags have been raised across Carterton and Brize Norton (Image: Raise the Colours Oxford)<\/p>\n Ms Allen added that the Union flag beyond to everyone no matter their gender identity, skin colour, faith, sexual orientation or class.<\/p>\n She said: \u201cSo if you come to Bampton with populist rhetoric designed to divide, know this: our Britain is compassionate and inclusive and will always win over hate and division.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have far more in common than what separates us.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are a mixed, shared story\u2014and we always have been and we always will. And we are all a richer nation for it.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Oxfordshire staff wear balaclavas as England flags removed<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Her comments provoked some debate online, garnering almost 2,000 reactions and 450 comments.<\/p>\n Those in support praised her sentiments, saying it was \u201celoquently put\u201d and that the flags were cheap, potentially foreign-made and an eyesore.<\/p>\n Another added they were bringing \u201cdivision\u201d and asked those putting them up to \u201cjog on\u201d.<\/p>\n Flags in Saxton Road, Abingdon (Image: Alastair Fear)<\/p>\n However some were critical about the way she generalised \u201cskinheads\u201d and questioned why she was annoyed by the presence of the national flags in the village.<\/p>\n One person said those putting up the flags deserved \u201cknighthoods for their selfless services to our communities\u201d.<\/p>\n Recently it has been revealed that Oxfordshire County Council<\/a>\u00a0has spent around \u00a315,000 on removing flags up to December 22, 2025.<\/p>\n