THE MP who tried to get God Save the Queen on the BBC every day has been left humiliated after an attempt to put a Union flag on all new UK car number plates.
Andrew Rosindell took to social media to share a petition urging the UK Government to legally require a flag on every new number plate.
The unpopular petition – signed fewer than 3000 times so far – tells MPs at Westminster: “The Union flag is a symbol of Unity and strength of our United Kingdom and is highly regarded at both home and abroad.
“Now that the United Kingdom has left the European Union, we the undersigned request the UK Government places the Union Flag on all new UK vehicle number plates.”
The idea was mocked relentlessly on social media – with the Romford MP’s post generating more than 1000 responses, of which very few were positive.
Petition: Require the Union Flag on all new UK number plates. https://t.co/HX8UmjY6J5
— Andrew Rosindell MP (@AndrewRosindell) January 27, 2022
“Union Jack nationalism: the virtue signalling of choice of the Tory right. And a handy diversion from this shit show of a government,” wrote National contributor Gerry Hassan.
Writer and actor Alex Andreou pointed out the double-standard. “Yesterday morning, Rosindell was doing media rounds, accusing Labour of being obsessed with superficial stuff (like transparency, honesty, ethics, standards and the Rule of Law) while the Conservatives got on with critical tasks. Later that day…”
Former Blue Peter presenter Simon Thomas told the MP to “grow up” – and tackle the major issues facing the UK instead.
“Dear Andrew. How about sorting out the cost of living crisis or getting on top of the culture of dishonesty rife in the heart of government rather than worrying about little flags on number plates,” he suggested.
The MP wants the Union flag to be prominent after Brexit
If the Union flag petition, created by Daniel Homer, gains 10,000 signatures by the May 12 deadline, the Government will have to respond to the suggestion. At 100,000, the petition will be considered for debate in the Parliament.
SNP MP Pete Wishart commented: “While Tory MPs obsess over plastering flags anywhere and everywhere, in the real world households are grappling with a cost-of-living crisis which the Tory government refuses to lift a finger to tackle.
“It may come as a shock to the Tories but struggling families can’t pay for food and heating with a flag.
“The reality is that Boris Johnson’s corrupt government - which is now under police investigation - is too engulfed in scandal to deal with the real issues impacting on people’s livelihoods and incomes.”
Rosindell was in the headlines earlier this year when he called for God Save the Queen to be played more frequently – and singled out the BBC to play it every night as it did before 24-hour television was introduced.
“In this year of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, will the minister take steps to encourage public broadcasters to play the national anthem and ensure the BBC restores it at the end of the day’s programming?” he asked.
After he faced criticism for the request, Rosindell doubled down.
“We should be proud of our country and uphold traditions, our heritage,” he told ITV’s Good Morning Britain.
“There is no better way of doing that than to sing together the national anthem f our country, which represents literally everybody,” he argued – despite the fact Wales and Scotland have their own national anthems.
The BBC did not take up the offer, but GB News did implement the broadcasting of the song after the row.
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