Suspended Labour MP says her ‘stomach churned’ when she saw colleagues wave English flags – which she says are just ‘tatty bits of cloth’
A suspended Labor MP said he was “stomached” when he saw his colleagues waving British flags, describing them as “ragged pieces of cloth”.
Rachael Maskell was elected to serve the York Central constituency but had the whip removed this year after rebelling against Sir Keir Starmer’s benefit cuts.
Speaking at a university event, Ms Maskell said: ‘Personally I think we need to take a break from flags at the moment and my stomach churned when everyone hoisted the St George flag at the Labor Party conference… this is not the Labor Party.
‘And Keir Starmer with two Union Jacks behind him… this is not the Labor Party.
‘The Labor Party is rebellious against the colonial state, you know, it’s not about having it.
‘So I think taking a break from the flags will be therapeutic for all of us as we have to grapple with this.’
Sir Keir had called on members to ‘fly our flags’ during his opening speech at Labour’s Liverpool conference, encouraging attendees to wave the English St George’s cross, the Scottish Saltire and the Welsh Red Dragon.
Just last week it was revealed that a Labor-run council was to remove hundreds of St George flags from lampposts and walls across the city.
Rachael Maskell (pictured) was elected to serve the York Central constituency but had her whip removed this year after rebelling against Sir Keir Starmer’s benefit cuts.
Sir Keir urged members to “fly our flags” in his opening speech at Labour’s Liverpool conference
Derby City Council has given citizens the chance to collect their flags before they begin to be removed on a large scale.
Last month, the streets of Derby, like many other towns and cities in England, were decorated with British flags.
The movement, known as Operation Raise the Colours, has led communities across the country, including Bradford, Newcastle, Norwich and the Isle of Wight, to display flags on their streets in defiance of council bans.
A Labor source said: ‘We are proud of our country’s flags and will never apologize for it.’
Ms Maskell told The Sun she was trying to “build unity, not division” following the alleged racist incidents in York.
