Keir Starmer to turn Union Jack into 'symbol of inclusion' in bid to 'reclaim flag from far-right'

Sir Keir’s speech comes just days after 25 demonstrators were arrested during a protest organised by ex-English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson.

More than 100,000 protesters attended the Unite the Kingdom rally, sparking widespread condemnation from Labour MPs.

However, in a similar note to his St George’s Day message, Sir Keir is expected to call for unity rather than fuel division.

A Downing Street source told The Telegraph: “The Prime Minister is particularly going to be keen on reclaiming the flag.

“The flag is for all of us. It should be a symbol of unity rather than a symbol of division. A symbol of pride, a symbol of inclusion.”

The Prime Minister is also expected to use his speech to brand Reform UK leader Nigel Farage as a “toxic” force whose vision of Britain must be challenged.

More in Common’s most recent opinion poll puts Reform UK just three points ahead of Labour, putting Sir Keir within the margin of error of ending Mr Farage’s advantage.

However, Sir Keir’s decision to directly challenge Mr Farage comes just hours after Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey also swiped at Reform UK.

During his conference-ending speech in Bournemouth, Sir Ed namedropped Mr Farage 30 times, with the Liberal Democrat leader mentioning his Tory rival Kemi Badenoch just once.

The Liberal Democrats also decided to put on a patriotic display in Bournemouth, with members flying Union Jack flags and Sir Ed claiming his favourite banner is the flag of St George.

Despite hard-left MPs condemning the emergence of more flags, research by More in Common found that 58 per cent of Britons want more banners displayed on public utilities.

The figure jumps to 83 per cent among Reform UK voters and 72 per cent among Tory voters.

However, Labour and Liberal Democrat voters were also split down the middle on the matter, with 47 per cent and 48 per cent wanting more flags displayed.

But splits on patriotism have plagued the Labour Party for decades.

“In left-wing circles,” George Orwell wrote in his 1941 essay The Lion and the Unicorn, “it is always felt that there is something slightly disgraceful in being an Englishman and that it is a duty to snigger at every English institution.”

A recent high point came when Dame Emily Thornberry appeared to mock a white van man's flag of St George during her visit to Rochester & Strood in 2014.

Meanwhile, trade unionist Paul Embery, ex-MP Tristam Hunt and activist musician Billy Bragg have all advocated for the Labour Party embracing Englishness.

Speaking to GB News on St George's Day, Labour MP Mike Tapp also defended Sir Keir's record as a patriot.

The ex-army intelligence officer told the People's Channel: “When we talk about patriotism, be it British or English, that means standing up for the country and what we’ve already seen from Labour is fixing the NHS and reducing waiting times, which impacts everybody.

“We’ve put £1,400 extra in millions of workers’ pockets through raising the minimum wage, we’ve been trying to stabilise the economy after inheriting an absolute mess and putting more police on the streets to combat anti-social behaviour.”

However, after Sir Keir was snapped alongside the St George's cross on April 23, Mr Farage accused the Prime Minister of feeling the pressure of Reform UK's rise.

He said: "You get the feeling that what's happening today (April 23) in Downing Street - with the flag of St George and Starmer saying he wants to reclaim the flag - basically the Labour Party and the Prime Minister is dancing to Reform's tune."