Nigel Farage Critiques Starmer's St George's Day Remarks

During St George's Day events, Prime Minister Keir Starmer positioned Labour as 'the patriotic party,' emphasizing that the English flag represents all people and should not be claimed by any single group or used to sow division. At a Downing Street reception with English sports figures, Starmer highlighted England's diversity and referenced both his own working-class background and that of his predecessor, Rishi Sunak, as symbols of national inclusivity. He expressed concern about the far-right attempting to appropriate national symbols, vowing to 'reclaim' the flag for values of decency and fairness. Reform UK leaders Nigel Farage and Richard Tice criticized Starmer's stance, accusing him of being fixated on the far right and questioning Labour's record on patriotism, with Tice arguing that true patriotism requires leadership and claiming Labour has failed to inspire national pride. The debate comes amid a surge in support for Reform UK, with polls showing the party gaining ground ahead of upcoming local elections, presenting a significant challenge to Labour in traditional heartlands. The political sparring underscores a broader contest over national identity and who best represents English patriotism.