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A fiery Facebook rant branding flag-hoisting patriots as "skinheads" has ignited a storm of backlash, exposing deep rifts over Union and England flags fluttering across the country. Susan Allen, a Bampton-in-the-Bush villager, unleashed her tirade on a public village group on Sunday evening, just hours after the banners were erected in her area and nearby Clanfield on February 1.

She wrote: "To 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." Ms Allen insisted that the Union flag belonged to all, regardless of "gender identity, skin colour, faith, sexual orientation or class." She blasted the act as "populist rhetoric designed to divide," proclaiming: "Our Britain is compassionate and inclusive and will always win over hate and division.

"We have far more in common than what separates us. We are a mixed, shared story-and we always have been and we always will. And we are all a richer nation for it."

The post exploded online, racking up nearly 2,000 reactions and 450 comments. Supporters hailed her words as "eloquently put," slamming the flags as "cheap, potentially foreign-made and an eyesore" that sow "division." One commenter urged the flag-raisers to "jog on."

But critics pounced on Ms Allen's "skinheads" label, decrying it as a wild generalisation. Daniel Rogers fired back: "I love how you automatically assume that people with short hair are racist skinheads. What an incredible generalisation."

Jennie Whitelock echoed the sentiment: "So bald men are now skinheads. Bit of a sweeping statement there. Being patriotic and wanting to support your country. When did just supporting English become wrong?"

Charlie Long took a harsher tone, questioning Ms Allen's credentials as he said: "Susan you live in a first world country in a nice and safe place of Oxfordshire I assume you have never done anything to protect this country and probably couldn't if you tried. This country and I have had enough and displaying a flag as something needs to change."

Pro-flag voices celebrated the displays as symbols of pride. Simon Martin said: "Lovely to see all the flags flying, it gives me an enormous sense of pride and hope, well done lads, you're making one hell of a difference, so keep up the awesome work you're doing by Britain great again!!!"

Gwyn Eveleigh-Winstone defended the banners: "If they're good enough to cover our men and women at repatriation, then they're good enough to fly in the village. Other countries are proud to fly their flags. France for example! I like to see them."

Not all were on board. Laurence Lemoine called for action: "Time to take down the flags from Operation Raise the Colours that have appeared in the centre of Bampton. Is it really the message that this village wants to project? Bampton Parish Council any idea?"

Judith Sissons posted: "I don't care what they look like, skinhead, long haired, black, brown, blonde! If they think they can bring division, jog on! If it's about pride in our international nationality, fine!"

Tracy Anne Bullingham questioned the outsiders: "Do these guys live in Bampton?? ...or are they just going around the Villages putting up cheap flags from China ? .... Now our council will use our money to take them down instead of filling the pot holes ! .... Maybe they could go home and cover and fly as many flags as they want on their own property...

"As that way you can have your views without forcing it on others who did not ask for it ....simple ..then they can show how Patriotic they are without us having to pay to have them removed ..."

The flag frenzy has simmered since last summer, with banners popping up in Oxford, Carterton, Abingdon, Wantage, Witney, and beyond. Proponents call it pure patriotism; detractors decry it as unsafe, untidy, and hostile.

Oxfordshire County Council has shelled out £15,000 to yank down 330 flags by December 22, 2025. A spokesperson affirmed: "We proudly fly both the Union Jack and the St George's flag from our buildings, and we welcome residents displaying flags on their own private property.

"However, we have also been clear that placing flags on or near highways can create serious safety hazards, and we will continue to take action to remove them during routine maintenance or where they pose an immediate danger to road users or pedestrians."

Undeterred, Raise the Colours Oxfordshire - the group spearheading the effort - vowed defiance. A leading member told the Oxford Mail they would "not surrender".