Martin Daubney launched a furious attack on Home Secretary Yvette Cooper after her Commons address on asylum reforms, taking aim at her comments on flag-waving.
During Monday’s statement on new restrictions for refugee family reunions and plans to close asylum hotels, Ms Cooper’s remarks sparked an immediate backlash from the GB News host.
The Home Secretary told MPs: “When we wave the Union flag, when we wave the Saint George’s flag, when we sing God Save the King and celebrate everything that is great about Britain and about our country, we do so with pride because of the values that our flags, our King and our country represent.”
She emphasised these values included “togetherness, fairness and decency, respect for each other, respect for the rule of law.”
Martin Daubney blasted Yvette Cooper
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GB NEWS
Martin interpreted Cooper’s words as a veiled criticism of demonstrators who have gathered outside asylum accommodation across Britain.
In reaction to the speech, he said: “Something that really leapt out as well from Yvette Cooper was when she talked about waving the Union Flag and Saint George’s Flag. Straight away, I got on my haunches when she said it.
“There is a huge conversation to be had about flags, patriotism, and the nation state. Once again today, the Labour Party comes across as tone deaf.
“People aren’t waving their flags to be hateful; they’re waving them because they feel their country is disappearing before their eyes.
“To infer that the use of the Saint George’s Flag and the Union Flag is distasteful, I think, is, once again, completely out of touch.”
Political Correspondent Olivia Utley responded: “I think it’s really, really difficult for the Labour Government because they want to show that they are patriotic.
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“I remember a few years ago, Emily Thornberry was seen sneering at white van men who had flags flying outside their houses, and it essentially ended her political career.
“Labour ministers know they can’t make that mistake. They can’t sneer at flag wavers, but they also don’t want to suggest they are on the side of people waving flags outside migrant hotels, because they fear their own left-wing MPs will start to rebel.
“So I think Cooper was trying to tread a very thin line suggesting that she herself would happily wave a Saint George’s Flag.
She emphasised these values included ‘togetherness, fairness and decency’
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POOL
“I can’t quite picture it, to be honest, perhaps because Keir Starmer is apparently claiming he’s got her Saint George’s Flag in his flat.
“She’s trying to say: ‘We are proud of our country. We are patriotic. We are prepared to wave flags, but in a different way.’ I’m not sure how long that line will work.
“I think lots of people in Epping and other places will ask: ‘Hang on a minute. I want to know is the Government with me or against me?’”