Calls for Labour to become more patriotic in order to win support from North East voters have been criticised by a former party chair.
Ian Lavery, MP for Wansbeck, said traditional Labour voters want "concrete policies" to improve their lives, "not political posturing next to a flag".
He spoke after a leaked report commissioned by the Labour Party suggested "communicating Labour’s respect and commitment for the country" could help the party win back support in North East constituencies that voted Conservative in the 2019 general election.
The Guardian newspaper revealed that the report said: "The use of the flag, veterans, dressing smartly at the war memorial etc give voters a sense of authentic values alignment.”
A spokesman for Labour leader Keir Starmer said the document was produced by an outside agency and made recommendations to the party for it to consider, rather than setting out the party's strategy.
Mr Lavery, who was party chair while Labour was led by Jeremy Corbyn, said: "Being patriotic and proud of one’s country comes in many forms, most of which do not include waving the union flag or dressing smartly.
"Patriotism in my eyes is supporting our NHS that keeps us safe and healthy, introducing a national living wage that gives the people of this country the pay they deserve for the work they do, and a green new deal that will preserve our nature and wildlife.
"Traditional Labour voters in the North who abandoned the party in 2019 want to hear concrete policies like these that will lead to meaningful positive changes in their lives, not political posturing next to a flag in fancy suits that people can see straight through.
"If people do not know what the Labour party stands for or who we represent, then tell them. We are a solution focused party that puts the needs of the many at the heart of our policies and values."
Conservative MPs said voters would see through attempts to appear patriotic for electoral reasons. Dehenna Davison is the MP for Bishop Auckland, one of the so-called Red Wall seats that returned a Conservative MP in 2019. She said: "If Labour think a few flags are going to help them win back seats in the blue wall, then they are seriously deluded.
"The fact the Labour Party has had to run extensive focus groups to come up with this idea shows just how out of touch they are with the very people who used to be their core voters. People who have pride in our country, who fly the Union Jack at times of national celebration, and who have the utmost regard for our veterans."
Paul Howell, Conservative MP for the Red Wall seat of Sedgefield, said: "Labour clearly have a problem in authenticity if they need focus groups to tell them to love the Union Jack and respect our veterans. You shouldn't need a training course to believe in your own country."
A spokesman for leader Sir Keir Starmer told reporters: “The first point to make clear is that it is not a Labour Party document.
“It was a document produced by an external agency about the Labour Party – it was created by a third party and the recommendations in that report are their recommendations.
“But Keir and Angela (Rayner, deputy leader) have been clear that we have got a long way back to rebuild the party so we can win in 2024.”
He added: “It is not right to say it was presented as our strategy. That is not what it was and to claim otherwise is wrong.
“We will write our own strategy and that will be a strategy focused entirely on how do we restore trust and how do we win in 2024.”
