England flag: Rishi puts boot in
New kit with altered cross unites PM, fans and politicians ...in disapproval
RISHI Sunak yesterday voiced his dislike of the multi- coloured St George’s Cross on England’s new kit, saying we ‘should not mess’ with national flags.
The Prime Minister joined a chorus of criticism from former England players, politicians and fans, who condemned manufacturer Nike and the Football Association over the new blue, purple and red design.
Asked about the redesign on a visit to Derbyshire, Mr Sunak, who supports Southampton FC, said: ‘I’d prefer the original (flag) and my general view is that when it comes to the national flags we should not mess with them because they are a source of pride and identity – who we are – and they are perfect as they are.’ The new kit will be worn in tonight’s friendly at Wembley versus Brazil, ahead of this summer’s European Championship in Germany in which England are the favourites to win. But Peter Shilton, England’s most capped player, said it was ‘wrong on every level’ to fiddle with the flag.
The 74-year- old added: ‘I don’t agree with it. It’s woke. If you’re going to put the St George’s Cross on a kit... then just put it on with the traditional colours. Like the Three Lions, it’s traditional.’
Shilton also criticised the cost of the shirts – an ‘authentic’ match shirt costs £124.99 for adults and £119.99 for children, while a ‘stadium’ replica version is £84.99 and £64.99 for children – both £10 more than the outgoing designs.
Nike said the new blue, red and purple flag represented a ‘playful update’ while cuffs in the same colours were intended as a homage to the 1966 World Cup winning squad’s training kit. The colours are similar to those of the bisexual pride flag – blue, pink and purple.
Another ex-England goalkeeper, David Seaman, said he believed many in his generation of players would have refused to wear it.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the England flag is a ‘unifier’ which ‘ doesn’t need fixing’. He told The Sun: ‘What’s next, are they going to change the Three Lions to three cats? Leave it alone.’
He also called on Nike to reduce the price of the shirts.
A Liberal Democrat source said it ‘ seems a bit odd to change the colours’. Fans have called for the national flag to be added to the list of heritage items protected by statutory regulation under the new Football Governance Bill.
It is thought the new flag was dreamt up by a Nike designer and then signed off by the FA. Industry experts say it would take six to nine months to create and distribute another kit. The England Under-21s team, including star Harvey Elliott, wore the kit in a friendly against Azerbaijan yesterday.
An FA spokesman said the new kit had a ‘number of design elements’ paying tribute to the 1966 World Cup winners. The spokesman said: ‘The coloured trim on the cuffs is inspired by the training gear worn by England’s 1966 heroes, and the same colours also feature on the design on the back of the collar.’
He said the organisation remained ‘ very proud’ of the St George’s Cross despite the criticism, adding: ‘ We understand what it means to our fans, and how it unites and inspires, and it will be displayed prominently at Wembley – as it always is – when England play Brazil.’
Nike said the kit ‘ disrupts history with a modern take on a classic’ but it was ‘never our intention to offend’.
It said in a statement: ‘ We have been a proud partner of the FA since 2012 and understand the significance and importance of the St George’s Cross and it was never our intention to offend, given what it means to England fans.’
Lucy Frazer, the Culture Secretary, posted on X: ‘Fans should always come first, and it’s clear that this is not what fans want.’