The flag which is a distortion of the Flag of England highlights the upper left ( North West ) region and therefore supposedly represents the North West of England . Tony Wilson stated : " It 's not about succession sic , it 's saying that there 's this referendum about devolution " , it was believed to highlight the issue of devolution in terms of regional identity by recalling the Manchester Peterloo Massacre in which the army charged a large political gathering and seized its flags . Following a no vote in the North East of England for a regional assembly , a referendum vote for the North West , which was due to take place in October 2004 , did not take place
Peterloo Massacre
Peterloo Massacre
Proposed flag of North West England