Keir Starmer has called for the English flag to be “reclaimed” from the rioters who went on the rampage in the wake of last summer’s Southport killings.
In comments marking St. George’s Day, the prime minister said: “We must never concede it, because it is an expression of our values and our patriotism.”
Violence erupted last August after three young girls were stabbed to death by Axel Rudakubana while attending a Taylor Swift-theme dance class in the school holidays.
Misinformation was spread online about the killer’s background, leading to widespread rioting across England.
Speaking at a St. George’s Day reception in 10 Downing Street on Tuesday night, Starmer said there is “a never-ending fight for our flag and what it represents”
He said: “There are people trying to sow division in our communities, people taking the red and white of our flag, like the bunting downstairs, with them, as they throw bricks at businesses.
“The day after the terrible Southport incident last year, I went up to take the opportunity to shake the hands of the first respondents of police and ambulance workers, you’ll now have seen what they all faced.
“By the time I got back to London that very day, we had people throwing bricks at the very same police officers I was shaking hands with. And that’s why the battle for our flag is really important because that is what happened and that was only last year. So, we have to fight for our flag and for our values.”
The PM said the clean-up operation carried out by ordinary people in the wake of the riots demonstrated the best of the country.
He said: “Rebuilding walls, repairing damage and it’s in that spirit that we reclaim our flag and that was incredibly uplifting to go from rioting to people coming out to do what they could for our country.
“So that’s what we must do for our country, for English decency, honour and fairness. Wrench it out of the hands of those who want to divide this nation and reclaim it for good.
“Because that flag doesn’t belong to me as prime minister or any group or political party and that is the point. It belongs to all of us, to England, in all its wonder and diversity. And we should be proud of that flag, we must never concede it, because it is an expression of our values and our patriotism.”
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