Create minister to ‘protect the UK flag’, demands senior MP

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A Conservative MP has referred to as for the introduction of a brand new minister to “protect the UK flag” following criticism of the redesigned England and Team GB kits.

Henry Smith, MP for Crawley and Chairman of a parliamentary group on Flags & Heraldry, stated that he’s “fed up” with the “constant erosion of respect for our national symbols”.

Earlier this week, the British Olympic Association confronted a backlash over the sale of Union Jack merchandise in colors past crimson, white and blue.

Designers launched choices together with shades of pink and purple, moderately than the conventional flag colors related to the British Olympic workforce.

An identical row ensued after Nike altered the cross utilizing purple and blue horizontal stripes on the again of the England Football Team’s shirt forward of Euro 2024.

The US agency stated the colors have been impressed by the coaching equipment worn by England’s 1966 World Cup winners.

Speaking on GB News, Mr Smith stated: “We’ve seen this constant erosion of British identity.

“People died for freedom under the Union Flag and I think it should be respected.

“I’m fed up with this sort of constant erosion of respect for our national symbols and I suspect that this is something deliberate and I suspect Team GB, probably in a panic, just pulled it back to say that the Union Jack will be properly displayed on kit.”

Prime minister Rishi Sunak beforehand waded into the debate, saying equipment producers “should not mess” with the St George’s Cross.

Labour chief Kier Starmer echoed the PM’s feedback.

Mr Smith added he welcomes the concept of a minister who had duty for nationwide symbols.

He stated: “It wouldn’t cost any more, it would just fix a point of responsibility in government to make sure that our national symbols are protected.

“So many of our symbols are now under actual deliberate attack by those who are interested in pursuing the culture wars, trying to cancel what it is to be British, and all of the great things that we have done.

“One of the things I reflect on, is that actually the Union Jack is a very trendy popular symbol around the world. You see the Union Jack everywhere, probably one of the most recognisable flags in the world.”

The All Party Parliamentary Group for Flags and Heraldry, which Mr Smith chairs, goals “to promote the flying of the Union Flag and flags associated with the UK, British territories, dependencies, the Commonwealth, heraldry, British symbols and related issues.”

A Spokesperson for the British Olympic Association stated: “All Team GB athletes will wear the Union Jack as normal in Paris”.