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The Fashion Central
The Fashion Central
Michael Gibson

TalkTV Host Torches Keir Starmer in National Pride Row: ‘Embarrassed to Be English!’

Photo by REUTERS

Julia Hartley-Brewer didn’t hold back during her TalkTV show, taking a sharp swipe at Prime Minister Keir Starmer over his comments on reclaiming the St George’s flag.

Joined by former Conservative advisor Claire Pearsall, Julia criticised the Labour leader for what she sees as a lack of pride in English identity. Starmer had called for the English flag to be “reclaimed” following the Southport killings, saying the far-right had sown division and stirred up hatred by hijacking national symbols, reported the Express.

But Julia wasn’t having it. “Carry a Hamas flag, no problem. Hezbollah, that’s fine too. Trans flag, absolutely fine too. But the England flag, definitely not,” she said. “At the end of the day, I don’t believe Keir Starmer is proud of his national flag. I don’t even think he’s proud of his country.”

She went on to claim that Starmer “feels a bit awkward about being white” and slammed the government for “sweeping St George’s Day under the rug.” Claire Pearsall agreed, saying the PM’s speech from Downing Street felt “awkward” and suggesting he doesn’t seem to “like being English.”

The comments came shortly after Starmer hosted a St George’s Day event at Number 10, which included NHS staff, police officers, charity workers, and even Ross Kemp. Guests were treated to traditional English fare like Melton Mowbray pies, Eccles cakes, and Bakewell tarts. Downing Street said the aim was to celebrate “strong English patriotism.”

But viewers of TalkTV weren’t convinced by the PM’s messaging. Under the clip posted to X, one user commented, “Why does a man who clearly dislikes his country want to be its prime minister?” Another wrote, “He’s embarrassed and awkward about many things… has this man got no shame?” And one user didn’t hold back: “Starmer didn’t know what a woman was until a court told him—it’s what we’ve all known since birth.”

While Starmer may have intended his remarks to unite people around the flag, critics like Julia say his message only highlights a deeper disconnect between the Labour leader and the public’s sense of national pride.

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