Has the poppy turned into a political battlefield?
Photo by Léonard Cotte on Unsplash
By Jacob Hughes
Each year, at the dawn of November, millions of people wear a red poppy to show remembrance and respect to all those who lost their lives in conflicts around the world since WWI.
The original red poppy was inspired by a poem, written by serving soldier John McCrae, "In Flanders Fields". The red poppy belongs to the Royal British Legion which is a charity created by veterans of World War One. They provide lifelong social, financial and emotional support to serving personnel, veterans, and their families.
Some people choose not to wear a red poppy, but why is this? In recent years we have seen the introduction of different coloured poppies from different charities.
The purple poppy for the animals lost in the war, BlackPoppyRose commemorates the contributions of black, African and Caribbean communities to the war, and one of the most notable is the white poppy.
Distributed by the Peace Pledge Union, the white poppy is meant to encompass all casualties of war and challenges war and militarism “questioning the normalization of conflict”.
One woman who wished to remain anonymous said: “I wear my white poppy with pride and do not believe in pointless wars which kills innocent people.”
Critics believe that wearing a white poppy during Remembrance Day shifts the focus away from honouring service members who died and turns a serious event into a political statement.
Ex Conservative MP and former British Army officer, Johnny Mercer, said on X: “White poppies are attention seeking rubbish.”
Do people know the true meaning behind the poppy? A recent YouGov survey shows that 14% of Britons see wearing a poppy as being a statement of support for Britain having a strong military, with 5% associating it with right-wing views and 3% with anti-immigrant views.
Fiona Shaw, 69, said: “I’m not a fan of the likes of Tommy Robinson have used the poppy as a platform to promote their political ideology. They seem to centre a lot of their promotion around the poppy.
This year there has been a lot of controversy around the Palestine Poppy. This poppy is similar to the traditional poppy but has red, black, white and green colours. Paediatrician, Dr Abdul Qader Ismail, created this design in December 2023, at the start of the conflict.
David Reed MP, the current Shadow Minister of Defence, said: “The greatest disrespect we can show to those who sacrificed their lives for us is to turn their remembrance into a political battleground. The fallen deserve our gratitude, not our agendas. This must not go unchallenged.”
Derek Evans, 58, said: “I have served in the armed forces for 20 years, and I think the Palestine poppy is a disgrace. Hijacking something that is meant for fallen soldiers. The fact that they try and push that poppy at the same time as a traditional poppy is just disgusting”
The Royal British Legion said: "We have no objection to white poppies or any group expressing their views. We see no conflict in wearing the red poppy alongside the white poppy.
“We do ask that the items are not offered alongside each other, however, as this would confuse the public."