Debate over the UK’s Union Jack flag has recently been sparked, with the UK Government announcing all government buildings in Great Britain will now fly the flag every day. Some, including Conservative Member of Parliament Tom Hunt, believe the Government should go further and make flying the Union Jack mandatory for all schools. In the latest poll by Redfield & Wilton Strategies, we asked the British public where they stood on the debate and found a plurality (38%) of Britons would support making it compulsory for all schools to fly the Union Jack flag. A significant 31% of respondents say they would neither support nor oppose such a move, while 25% would oppose.

Respondents aged 55 to 64 are the most supportive of making it compulsory for all schools to fly the Union Jack, at 42%. Meanwhile, 29% of 18-to-24-year-olds say they would support and 30% say they would oppose the move. 30% of those aged 65 and over also say they would be opposed, though a plurality (37%) say they would support making it compulsory to fly the Union Jack at all schools.

A majority (53%) of 2019 Conservative voters say they would support making it compulsory for schools to fly the Union Jack flag, including 31% who say they would support it strongly. A substantially smaller proportion of 2019 Labour voters (32%) say they would be supportive, while a slight plurality (34%) say they would oppose.

Until 2008, it was forbidden to fly the Union Jack other than on designated days. Now, the Government has made the flag a compulsory feature of all government buildings, and it seems a plurality of Britons would like to see it flying at all schools as well. That being said, a considerable share of the public appears not to have a strong opinion on the matter and a quarter say they would be opposed.