Labour members have been left far from convinced by Sir Keir Starmer’s patriotic push as the closing rendition of the Red Flag came out trumps against patriotic anthems such as Jerusalem and God Save the King.
GB News spoke to Labour Party members who were leaving the ACC in Liverpool after this year’s party conference came to a close to ask them what song they prefer.
Olly, a delegate at the conference, said: “The Red Flag, obviously. I’m a socialist to my core. I love the Red Flag. It’s probably one of the highlights of conference.”
The young Labour Party member was also not won over by Sir Keir’s push to fly the Union Jack, flag of St George, Scottish saltire and Welsh dragon in Liverpool.
“I’m not a big fan of the other flags, but I like the Red Flag,” he added.
Labour member Taylor also said: “It’s the Red Flag for me. I have a lot of respect for the Royal Family.
“I think they do a great thing for this country, but for me it’ll always be the Red Flag. I’m very proud of being a socialist and I think it sums up our party and our movement.”
Gabriel, also a Labour Party member, added: “To me, I like both anthems [Jerusalem and the Red Flag]. They both have deep roots in the Labour Party.
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GB News spoke to Labour Party members who were leaving the ACC in Liverpool after this year’s party conference came to a close to ask them what song they prefer
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GB NEWS/PA
“But I think the Red Flag is an anthem that we tend to look at in the lens of Corbynism and the Corbyn years of the Labour Party.
“So, I’m happy it was sung at this year of the Labour Conference and I hope it will continue to be sang at conferences in the future.”
The Red Flag is a socialist anthem associated with Labour and its sister parties around the world.
It has been the official anthem of the Labour Party since its formation in 1900.
Labour Ministers were spotted clutching Union Jacks and St George’s flags
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Labour’s claim to Hubert Parry’s Jerusalem stems from Clement Attlee’s decision to run in 1945 with the slogan “New Jerusalem”.
Jerusalem has also been sung at Conservative Party Conferences and by members of the Women’s Institute.
However, other Labour Party members swung the other way, either claiming they liked both flags equally or leaning towards Jerusalem and God Save the King.
James said: “I do like Jerusalem an awful lot. But I think the Red Flag is also an awesome song. I don’t have a preference out of the two.
“I think that they both represent the values of the Labour Party incredibly well. A party of working-class people, and a party of patriotic national renewal.
Despite Sir Keir’s patriotic push, pro-Palestine flags were also spotted at Labour Party Conference
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“I think we need to prioritise both of those things, so I don’t have a favourite.”
GB News also caught one Labour Party member whistling Jerusalem as he entered the conference hall for the deputy leadership hustings.
The member, who did not wish to appear on camera, was indecisive about which song he preferred.
After initially saying the Red Flag, he quickly changed his mind, adding: “Jerusalem, but they’re both good.”
Sir Keir’s conference speech was focused on patriotism and Cabinet Ministers were seen clutching national flags around the ACC.
In a sit-down interview with GB News after his speech, Sir Keir yet again set out the ways he has changed the Labour Party following Jeremy Corbyn’s stint as leader.
“There’s nothing wrong with being patriotic,” the Prime Minister told the People’s Channel.
In a sit-down interview with GB News after his speech, Sir Keir yet again set out the ways he has changed the Labour Party following Jeremy Corbyn’s stint as leader
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GB NEWS“And the left has always been patriotic. Look at the Labour Government just after the war, rebuilding our country.
“A founder member of Nato, which obviously has been the most successful military alliance the world has ever known.
“And we are patriotic today, a patriotic Labour Party, because we love our country.
“We love our beautiful, tolerant, diverse country. And that’s what drives us to not just fix the problems in our country, but to change our country for the better. I was very glad to see all those flags flying.”