Starmer insists Labour is ‘proud’ to fly Union flag

Sir Keir Starmer has insisted Labour is “proud” to fly the Union flag after a number of his MPs complained that its use on party leaflets was putting off ethnic minority voters.

The Labour leader was backed by Lord Blunkett, the former home secretary, who said that MPs criticising the appearance of the national flag on campaign materials had “failed to understand that pride in nation” is “fundamental” to working class voters.

The Guardian reported that concerns had been raised about the issue at recent meetings of the party’s Bame group in Westminster and by London members of the parliamentary Labour Party.

Unnamed MPs claimed that the prominent use of the Union flag might alienate voters from ethnic minorities.

One MP said: “We are all really proud of our country but this can be a complex issue for some communities and we have to navigate that more carefully.

“For a lot of communities we are talking about colours that are associated with the National Front or another far-Right group.”

The MP queried why the party could not use “segmented branding” for different voters.

Another MP commented on the use of the flag: “I can see how it would work in some places but it’s definitely detrimental in university towns and in heavily Bame seats.”

The MP claimed that “multiple colleagues” had told them of activists refusing to hand out leaflets.

“They just look like Union Jacks, really, with a bit of red on the side. There’s not even a Labour rose. You don’t need to prove your patriotism by wrapping yourself in the Union Jack.”

Labour released a short statement on Saturday dismissing the claims.

A party spokesman said: “Keir’s changed Labour Party is positive, progressive and patriotic, the Union flag is something we are proud to carry.”

Lord Blunkett derided the MPs who had objected to the flag’s use on campaign literature.

He told The Telegraph: “Anyone who thinks in this way has failed to understand that pride in nation is a fundamental tenet of the working class community which the party seeks to represent.

“Secondly it fails to understand that the Union flag represents the unity of the United Kingdom and the combining of nations together.”

Lord Blunkett added: “British citizens from whatever origin would – I would think – want to be associated with the unity of the nation.”

Conservative MPs took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to torment Labour over the row.

Jonathan Gullis, the MP for Stoke-on-Trent North, said: “Some Labour MPs have been moaning about our nation’s flag being present on their campaign material.

“Same old Labour,” he added.

Brendan Clarke-Smith, the MP for Bassetlaw, said: “If you are that ashamed of our country then don’t bother standing as an MP.”

Reorienting Labour in a more patriotic direction has been a priority for Sir Keir since taking over from Jeremy Corbyn in 2020.

While Mr Corbyn received criticism for not singing the national anthem at a Battle of Britain memorial ceremony in 2015, Sir Keir made the decision in 2022 that the anthem should be sung at Labour’s annual party conference.