On 3 February, Luke Pollard appeared on BBC Two’s Politics Live. During the programme, Jo Coburn, the presenter, asked Luke about the White Ensign – the flag for the British Royal Navy – hanging behind him.

Flags are important, but not just because they look nice or make a good decoration. They are important because of the values they represent.

Luke is proud to be from Plymouth and Devon (the Devonshire flag also hangs in his office). He’s also proud to be English, British and European. These identities do not contradict each other.

The flags that represent these places are symbols of the values they embody, values that make people proud to identify with them.