Sir Keir Starmer has taken a veiled swipe at Reform UK leader Nigel Farage in his St George's Day tribute.
The Prime Minister, who is currently attempting to thwart the rise of Reform UK, was joined by a number of high profile English icons at No10.
Turning his attention to the politicisation of patriotism, Starmer said: "That flag doesn't belong to me as Prime Minister, it doesn't belong to my party, the Labour Party, or to any group or political party.
"It belongs to all of us, to England in all of its wonderful diversity. And we should be proud of that flag and we must never concede it because it's an expression of our values and our patriotism."
Sir Keir Starmer
PA
The Prime Minister's comments come after Nigel Farage warned: "I’m very concerned that we have whole areas of our towns and cities that are unrecognisable as being English, but they’re not unrecognisable as being English because of skin colour. They’re unrecognisable because of culture."
Labour MPs have been rolling out a three-pronged attack against Reform amid a surge in support for Farage.
Farage even faced accusations of being a "plastic patriot" following much-denied accusations of Reform cosying up to Vladimir Putin.
Despite Labour's best efforts, Reform remains extremely popular with voters who identify as English only.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage
PA
However, Starmer's St George's Day tribute also separately made reference to last summer's Southport riots.
The Prime Minister vowed to "wrench the flag out of the hands of those who want to divide this nation and reclaim it for good", adding: "That’s what we must do for our country, for English decency, honour and fairness."
Despite the Prime Minister sharing photos from inside No10 this morning, Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick this morning swiped at Labour for its so-called problem with patriotism.
Writing for GB News, Jenrick said: "Who could forget Emily Thornberry’s mocking tweet of a house flying the St George’s flag?
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Gary Lineker looking at a football shirt during a reception to celebrate St George's DayPA"That disdain for English national identity remains in the Labour Party.
"They seem happy to promote and celebrate literally any other culture than the majority culture most people here are proud of."
Jenrick added: "But the 'Establishment' disdain for our identity goes well beyond Emily Thornberry. The Arts Council, for instance, funds projects that denigrate our past.
"Our university students are taught that England has a uniquely evil past that is responsible for the world’s injustices.
"We can’t possibly forge a more united country around an identity we aren’t proud of."
