>>12870fuochino:
In multiple widely shared incidents, British anti-EU protesters have gained viral notoriety for unsuccessfully attempting to burn the European Union (EU) flag, only to be thwarted by EU safety regulations that require flags to be fire-retardant.
The Independent
The Independent
+1
Notable instances include:
The "Balaclava Flag Gimp" (2015): A man wearing a balaclava, later identified by some groups as a far-right activist, filmed himself repeatedly trying to ignite an EU flag while delivering a speech against "mass immigration". The video became a viral meme after the flag refused to catch fire.
Bolton Brexiteers (2020): On the night the UK officially left the EU (January 31, 2020), a group of revelers in Bolton town centre attempted to burn the flag while singing "God Save the Queen". The material only melted rather than burning, leading the group to eventually tear it apart by hand instead.
Downing Street Protest (2020): During Brexit Day celebrations near Downing Street, another protester was filmed using a flammable aerosol to force the flag to burn, as standard lighters were ineffective against the fire-retardant material.
The Independent
The Independent
+5
The irony of these events—where the very Brussels-mandated safety laws the protesters were demonstrating against prevented their symbolic act of defiance—has been frequently highlighted by international media.