St George's Day: I'm a mixed-race, gay Scouser who was raised a Catholic – and I'm proud to be English

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I woke up this morning like every other day as a proud Northern Englishman, living in London. I then realised that it is St George’s Day, you know, the celebration of England’s patron saint who was born in Syria and whose mum was Palestinian. Yes, that one!

People should be able to enjoy today, without worrying that people may judge them. It's completely fine to be patriotic! But when it comes to racism, well that's a different matter isn't it?

To be clear: it's okay to wave your English flags on St George’s day without having to justify yourself. The Scots do it with St Andrew, the Welsh with St David and the Irish with St Patrick. But what isn't acceptable in any part of the UK is to follow this with any kind of racism or racial overtones. You know, those people who on this day ask others to go back home. Because, poor old George would have to leave too.

As a mixed-race gay Scouser who was raised a Catholic, there are many different facets to my being and one of them is my Northern English identity. I am proud to stride two racial divides with my mum being white and my dad black. But what I do not tolerate is any form of racism towards those of colour who are English born and bred when some folk just think they’re being “patriotic”. There’s nothing English about racism.

Last night before bed, I tweeted my MP telling her she was doing an excellent job for her constituents in the run-up to the UK General Election. She happens to be Emily Thornberry, who resigned last year after her comments were taken out of context surrounding a white van and some English flags. Thornberry is no more anti-English or a snob than I am – and I’ve met some in my time, having come from a working-class background, and spent over a decade working as a cop in Manchester and London.

Thornberry isn't the problem with our society. Neither are the people who drape their houses with the St George's cross or, heaven forbid, drive white vans. Focusing on this completely misses the point, as one of the greatest threats to our identity and nationalism is nothing to do with them, and everything to do with UKIP.

The party's election slogan is "believe in Britain", but if it was really this patriotic, it would be working to ensure all parts of these isles remain prosperous, and that the Great stays in Britain. A vision of divide and rule will only hack away at this until there's nothing left.

Nigel Farage speaks out about immigration as if it will be the downfall of the UK, when the country has been built on it. Whenever I hear a Ukipper speak, I cringe-wait to see what will come out of their mouth next. Only last year, the (now former) UKIP MEP Janice Atkinson called one of the party's own supporters from Thailand “Ting Tong”. The party can’t control their offensive mouths, and yet we expect them to control our national identity and borders. Yeah, right.

We need to get used to multiculturalism, and recognise just how valuable it is. Don't forget – during the Second World War black and Asian people came to England from the Commonwealth to keep the country going, while people here went off to fight, never to return. But now that we're back on our feet and the 6th richest country on earth, you can’t just ask the people who came over here to help to go home. And more to the point: where to?

So, wherever you are and whatever you are doing, you should have a great St George’s day. Go on, celebrate all the great things about being English – it's ok. Just don’t be a racist about it. That’s all.

Kevin Maxwell is a writer, advocate and former detective of both the Greater Manchester Police and London’s Metropolitan Police. He was born in Liverpool, spent a decade in Manchester and now lives in London. His debut memoir, Broken, about discrimination and depression in the police force is out soon. He tweets @kevin_maxwell