Sir Sadiq Khan has been forced to defend London’s New Year fireworks display overnight after backlash erupted at a “flags” segment.
BBC viewers had seen a segment of the display overlaid with national flags from around the world, with a voiceover declaring “this is what England means to me”.
The narrator said: “Here’s what England means to me – the real England.
“When it’s sunny, it’s too hot. When it’s cold, the weather’s rubbish. England to me is a cup of tea. How many sugars? I’m sweet enough.
“England, to me is Caribbean barbers with a sharpish trim.
“It’s Christian neighbours saying Happy Hanukkah, mate, and Muslim mums saying Merry Christmas, love.
“And you think you’re seeing flags now? Wait until the World Cup’s on. Then you’ll know about flags, my son.
“Because this is what England means to me. It’s about loving each other no matter what colour you are, where you’re from, or who your God is. Because this is England. This is the United Kingdom.”
Social media users were quick to pour scorn on the segment.
World flags came together on the London Eye to form a Union Jack before ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ rang out
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BBC
One, George Madgwick, said: “Christ, if I didn’t dislike Sadiq Khan, London Mayor, enough already. That virtue-signalling rubbish for the midnight fireworks on BBC just tipped it for me.”
Others also laid into how the Northern Irish Ulster Banner was not displayed alongside the other flags of the Home Nations.
Aaron Stewart said: “Trying to work out which is the bigger abomination, the fact that the EU flag made the cut or that Northern Ireland is again left out.
“We fought in two world wars, multiple conflicts since, the fourth pillar of the UK… The UK begins in Essex and ends in Sussex for some.”
Sir Sadiq Khan had earlier declared ‘diversity is a strength, not a weakness’ during a pre-fireworks interview
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BBC
Even more commentators bristled at the EU flag appearing – though others pointed out this was during a Ryder Cup segment of the display.
The Mayor of London then took to social media to declare: “Hope over fear, unity over division. As we head into 2026, our New Year’s fireworks lit up the skies with a clear message about the importance of togetherness.
“Hope you enjoyed the show,” he added.
Sir Sadiq had earlier declared “diversity is a strength, not a weakness” during a pre-fireworks interview.
Sadiq Khan also took a veiled swipe at Donald Trump
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GETTY“It makes us richer, not poorer… It makes us the greatest city in the world,” he told the BBC.
“If people have a problem with that, that’s their problem, not ours.”
Then, he took a veiled swipe at Donald Trump after the President’s repeated attacks on the Mayor.
“I’m proud to live in a great like London,” Sir Sadiq said. “We don’t just tolerate differences we respect it, embrace it and celebrate it… Londoners know that when people try to talk down our city, it’s because they’re jealous.”