Sir Keir Starmer has been branded a “plastic patriot” after quietly scrapping a 16-year-strong tradition to fly the St George’s Cross.
The famed football fan Prime Minister has chosen not to drape the English flag across Downing Street for the World Cup despite pledging to “fly our flag proudly” on St George’s Day this year.
Former Prime Ministers have either flown the flag on matchdays or for the entire tournament, a tradition which began in earnest under David Cameron in 2010.
Then-Local Government Minister Grant Shapps at the time urged councils across the country to show their support “to avoid accusations of being overzealous or spoilsports”.
Theresa May declared No10 was “proud to fly the flag” to cheer on the Three Lions in 2018.
Downing Street did receive a red-and-white makeover for the Euro 2024 final, just days into Sir Keir’s soon-to-be-finished time in power.
It was draped in England’s flag the next year after the Lionesses downed Spain to retain the Women’s Euros.
But in the wake of “Operation Raise the Colours”, the Prime Minister has treaded a careful path on flying the flag.
Sir Keir initially suggested he backed the banners flying in public up and down the land.
Downing Street was draped in England’s flag in 2025 after the Lionesses downed Spain to retain the Women’s Euros
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His spokesman said the Prime Minister had one “in his flag” which he brought home from the Euros in Germany the summer before.
“He has pride in the flag, he thinks it is important that we do have pride in our flag, it represents our history and our heritage and our values. That is why he has an England flag in his flat,” No10 said.
But a few months later, Sir Keir Starmer hatched plans to “reclaim the flag” from the “far-right” after activists raised them across the country.
The Prime Minister used a speech to claim that the Union Jack and St George’s Cross represent a “symbol of inclusion”.
On St George’s Day this year, he went on to declare: “It’s our flag. It belongs to us, and we will fly it for the values that we believe in.”
ENGLAND’S FLAG IN THE FIRING LINE – READ MORE:
On St George’s Day this year, Sir Keir Starmer declared St George’s flag is ‘our flag’ and ‘belongs to us’
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But the flag was absent for all three of England’s World Cup group stage fixtures.
No10 has since confirmed there were plans to fly the flag during the knockouts, but Sir Keir opted not to follow the “tradition” for England’s clashes with Croatia, Ghana and Panama.
Sir Keir also planned to fly the Saltire if Scotland made it to the knockouts, a prospect which was swiftly dashed on Sunday night.
Reform UK was quick to lay into the Prime Minister’s “empty rhetoric” on breaking with tradition.
“Even by Labour’s standards it’s surprising that the Government has chosen to drop the tradition of flying the St George’s flag while England are playing,” a spokesman said.
PICTURED: No10 on June 23 – just hours before England’s second group stage game against Ghana
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“Starmer spent St George’s Day talking about how ‘very encouraging’ he is of the flag, yet that now looks like more empty rhetoric and meaningless drivel.
“They will go down as one of the most unpatriotic governments in modern British history.”
Tory chairman Kevin Hollinrake added: “Keir Starmer claims to love his country but won’t fly the England flag for the World Cup. He is just another Labour Party plastic patriot.
“He should show some backbone and pride in our flag and our history. These are the things that bring us together.
“Regardless of what Starmer and his colleagues think, millions of us will be cheering the England team on to the final whistle in all of their games.”
