England has lost its identity and being called a patriot is like being called a racist, says Nana Akua

England has lost its identity and being called a patriot is like being called a racist, says Nana Akua

WATCH NOW: Nana Akua shares her thoughts on patriotism in England

GB News
Nana Akua

By Nana Akua


Published: 21/04/2024

- 16:59

Our flag is a symbol of our national identity, and it's time to make England great again.

Sir Keir Starmer has said that we must not flinch at flying the Saint George's flag. He declared that Labour is the patriotic party now.

Was this the same Labour Party whose MPs recently criticised the use of Saint George's flag on the party's campaign materials because they were concerned it would put off ethnic voters?


A flag won't put people off, it's your policies were interested in, that's what may or may not put people off.

As if ethnic voters are that simple and shallow? But Labour has got a form for lacking patriotism.

Nana Akua

Nana Akua shares her thoughts on Keir Starmer's remarks about 'patriotic' Labour

GB News

Remember good old Jeremy Corbyn. He was criticised for not singing the national anthem at the Battle of Britain memorial service.

Emily Thornberry and her snobby attitude towards people flying the flag of Saint George. Remember that?

And even though in 2022, Sir Keir Starmer insisted that the national anthem be sung at party conference, he seemed quite happy to hand our sovereignty back to the UK. He wanted a second referendum.

The BBC, our national broadcaster, dropped the national anthem, so we now play it every morning here on GB News. And how many times have we heard the desire to drop Rule Britannia from the Last Night of the Proms?

You only need to look at big sporting brands like Nike daring to manipulate, redefine and recolour our flag to suit their own ends. What they did to the England flag on the new kit was, in my view, nothing short of vandalism.

On Tuesday, it's Saint George's Day, that's April 24, and I think it's about time we stop talking ourselves down and celebrate this great nation.

After all, every other part of the United Kingdom proudly celebrate their day. The Welsh fly their flag of Saint David and are not afraid to be patriotic. The Irish with Saint Patrick's Day, which is a national holiday, and you always know about it because it's been etched into the psyche. On March 17, Irish pubs here in England paint the town green, which is actually my favourite colour.

The Scottish are truly patriotic with Saint Andrew's Day. Having lost a referendum, only yesterday there were fresh calls for independence. Their love of their nation and self-governance is clear.

But here in England, we've lost our identity. And being called a patriot is a dirty word. It's like being called a racist.

Instead of talking our country up, we seem to talk ourselves down. There was a time when the flag of Saint George and the Union Jack were commandeered by far right extremist groups, who would fly it as their banner.

But these days are long behind us. We have reclaimed it. Our flag is a symbol of our national identity, and it's time to make England great again.

You may like