1 in 8 Labour voters think the English f lag is racist

ONE in eight Labour voters think the English flag is ‘racist and divisive and should not be displayed’, a new poll reveals today.

The study ahead of St George’s Day tomorrow reveals widespread support for the St George’s Cross, with almost three- quarters of voters saying it is ‘a symbol to represent England and no one should be offended by it’. But it also reveals that Labour voters are 13 times as likely as Conservative supporters to describe it as ‘racist and divisive’.

Separately, the survey reveals strains on the Union, with Scots and Welsh both saying they feel better represented by their national emblems than the Union Flag. Sir Keir Starmer has made strenuous efforts to rebrand Labour as a patriotic party in the wake of Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership, when many traditional supporters deserted the party over a perceived lack of patriotism.

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph yesterday, the Labour leader said: ‘Labour is the patriotic party now. We will celebrate St George’s Day with enthusiasm.’ But new polling conducted by former Tory treasurer Lord Ashcroft suggests that some Labour supporters are significantly less enthusiastic about the St George’s flag.

The survey of more than 5,400 voters reveals that just one per cent of Conservative supporters said the flag was ‘racist and divisive’. But the figure rose to 13 per cent among Labour voters.

In a separate finding, just 24 per

‘It should not be displayed’

cent of people polled in Wales said the Union Flag best represented their identity, with 46 per cent naming the Welsh flag and 23 per cent saying both. The situation was starker in Scotland, where just 17 per cent identified primarily with the Union Flag, compared with 51 per cent for the Saltire and 23 per cent saying both.