We must not flinch from flying St George’s flag, says Starmer

Sir Keir Starmer has said “we must not flinch” at flying the St George’s flag as he declared that “Labour is the patriotic party now”.

Writing for The Telegraph ahead of St George’s Day on Tuesday, the Labour leader said that he was “proud” to be English and that his party would celebrate the day of England’s patron saint “with enthusiasm”.

The article represents a bold attempt to outmanoeuvre the Conservatives on the issue of national identity, as well as a slapdown to those in his own party who have criticised Labour’s use of patriotic symbols in its campaigning.

Listing the times in his life when he has felt “great pride and gratitude to be English”, Sir Keir highlighted “belting out Three Lions” in Wembley Stadium during Euro 96 and reaching the peak of Scafell Pike, England’s highest point, with his mother, who died in 2015 after a long battle with Still’s disease.

He said that “real patriotism… isn’t just about respecting our shared symbols and sentiments” but consisted in “serving the country we love”.

In a broadside against the Tories, he claimed that having “trashed the economy, hammered mortgage holders, weakened the union” and “neglected our forces”, they had “lost any right to call [themselves] a patriotic party”.

“Labour is the patriotic party now,” he said. “We will celebrate St George’s Day with enthusiasm, an enthusiasm shared by each patron saints’ day on our isles.”

Alienating ethnic minorities

Last month, it was reported that several unnamed Labour MPs had criticised the use of the Union flag on the party’s campaign materials, claiming it might alienate voters from ethnic minorities.

In a message to his internal critics, Sir Keir said he had “no time for those who flinch at displaying our flag” because “the cross of St George belongs to every person who loves this country and seeks to make it better – a symbol of pride, belonging and inclusion”.

Warning against the St George’s flag being surrendered to the far Right, he said: “We cannot allow it to become the preserve of the tiny minority who want to drive hatred in our communities.”

In the article, he claimed that “pride in our flag” and “pride in our national identity” had become “more contentious” during the 14 years in which the Tories have been in power.

“Shouting ‘woke’ doesn’t just undermine the proud British tradition of free speech, dissent and independent thinking,” he said.

“At best, it suggests they don’t have faith in the strength of our history, identity and flag to withstand discussion. At worst, they don’t care if division weakens our nation if it strengthens their grip on power.

“I’m proud to be English precisely because it’s a place where we can disagree – whether that’s a debate in the House of Commons or in the local pub – and still celebrate a common identity, a shared history and a future together.”

Sir Keir’s embrace of patriotic symbols is in stark contrast with his predecessor, Jeremy Corbyn, who was criticised for not singing the national anthem at a Battle of Britain memorial ceremony in 2015.

In 2022, Sir Keir made the decision that the anthem should be sung at Labour’s annual party conference.

In the past, some Labour politicians have also appeared uneasy when dealing with expressions of English national identity.

Emily Thornberry resigned from Ed Milliband’s shadow cabinet in 2014 after being accused of snobbery for sharing a picture on social media of a house in Kent bedecked with England flags with the accompanying comment: “Image from Rochester”.