AntiSocial - What is patriotism?
It seems like everyone wants to be a patriot this week, from Prime Minister Keir Starmer to people hoisting flags up British lampposts. But what does patriotism really mean?
At the Labour Party conference there was lots of talk of 'progressive patriotism' - a definition of the term that emphasises Britain's tolerance and multiculturalism. Others invoke patriotism when seeking a return to the past. Others reject the word entirely because of its links to nationalism.
We find out why Keir Starmer and the Labour Party are trying to formulate 'progressive patriotism', examine the history of the concept going back to the ancient Greeks, and ask what polling tells us about how patriotic British people feel.
Presenter: Adam Fleming
Production team: Lucy Proctor, Natasha Fernandes, Mike Wendling, Tom Gillet
Studio manager: Andy Mills
Production coordinator: Janet Staples
Editor: Bridget Harney
Published on Friday, 3rd October 2025.
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