Labour MP Rachael Maskell expressed her discontent over fellow party members waving the St George’s cross during the party’s conference, stating her “stomach churned,” reports BritPanorama.
Maskell criticized the display of flags, referring to them as “tatty bits of cloth” and asserting they should be removed. Her comments came amidst ongoing tensions within the Labour Party, particularly after her rebuke of leader Sir Keir Starmer’s proposed welfare cuts, which led to her suspension from the party whip earlier this year.
Addressing an audience at a university event, Maskell remarked, “I personally think we need a little bit of a break from flags right now,” and condemned the display at the conference as not representative of the party’s values. She continued, emphasizing that “the Labour Party is the insurgent to the colonial state, you know, it’s not about owning it.”
During Sir Keir Starmer’s keynote address in Liverpool, he encouraged party members to “fly our flags,” prompting attendees to wave various flags, including the English St George’s cross, the Scottish Saltire, and the Welsh Red Dragon. This led to the recent rise of the campaign Operation Raise the Colours, which has seen numerous British flags hoisted in public spaces.
The initiative gained traction on social media, particularly after two councils decided to remove the flags, sparking further debate among the public. A Labour source defended the flag displays, stating, “We’re proud of our country’s flags and we’ll never apologise for that.”
Maskell further commented on the necessity of unity within the party, noting her intent to “build unity and not division” in light of recent racist incidents in York.
