It is the right of people in this country to respect the flag if they want to, and not respect it if they want to.
If people choose to and mean it sincerely then great. If people choose not to, or only acknowledge the flag because they feel they have to, then that is probably the fault of the state for doing whatever caused people to feel that way. Respect has to be earned, and that goes for countries as well as people.
One of the fundamental things the Union Flag represents is a person's right to turn his back on it.