LABOUR is now the “party of patriotism” which will fight to defend British “values, traditions and institutions”, according to a member of the shadow cabinet.
Writing in the Observer, shadow secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport Lucy Powell highlighted the Jubilee as an example of “pure British patriotism”, arguing that “it’s not the Conservatives that enshrine these patriotic principles but Labour.”
Powell wrote: “Being patriotic isn’t something that Labour has always looked comfortable with, but progressive politics has been at its most successful and transformational when it captures the best of British values, nurtures our world-famous institutions and instils a belief that our best days lie ahead of us, not just in the past.”
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Noting the boos received by Boris Johnson upon his arrival at St Paul’s on Friday, Powell added that this negative reaction confirmed that the public know the Prime Minister “is unable to uphold those values.”
The article is the latest example of the emphasis Labour has placed on British patriotism under Keir Starmer, who has repeatedly sought to put distance between his leadership style and that of his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn, whose alleged lack of patriotism often saw him vilified by right-wing critics.
Labour Party leader Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria take their seats for the Platinum Party at the Palace in the front of Buckingham Palace
Writing for the Daily Telegraph on May 31, Starmer described celebrating the Platinum Jubilee as the British public’s “patriotic duty”, adding: “A new patriotism, one that is easy, self-confident and inclusive, is being born all around us.”
Further details of Labour’s strategy on patriotism were revealed in February of 2021, when a document was leaked advising the party to make “use of the [Union] flag, veterans [and dressing smartly]”.
However, this strategy has been criticised by some within Labour, including MP Clive Lewis, who commented last year: “It’s not patriotism; it’s Fatherland-ism. There’s a better way to build social cohesion than moving down the track of the nativist right.”
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