Sir Keir Starmer says England faces a "never-ending fight for our flag and what it represents", during a speech to mark St George’s Day at 10 Downing Street. The prime minister shares his worries about the far-right claiming ownership of the English flag at a reception to mark the nation’s patron saint. Sir Keir also praises England for its diversity, pointing to the difference between his "working class" background and his predecessor Rishi Sunak, "an English Hindu", who both become prime minister. Report by Blairm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
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00:00This is a beautiful country, rich with pride, potential and creativity.
00:05It's also a country where a person like me, who grew up working class,
00:15and where a person like the previous occupant, Rishi Sunak, an English Hindu,
00:23could both become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
00:27That is a fantastic thing. That is a really fantastic thing about our country.
00:31And that's something I'll always be very, very proud of.
00:34We should all be proud of. And we should never take for granted.
00:40Because whilst this is a day for celebration, we can't be under any illusions.
00:47There's a never-ending fight for our flag and what it represents.
00:52There are people trying to sow division in our communities.
00:57People taking the red and white of our flags.
01:00I hope you like the bunting here and down the stairs.
01:02But they want to take it with them as they throw bricks at businesses and our police.
01:10So that flag doesn't belong to me as Prime Minister.
01:16It doesn't belong to my party, the Labour Party, or to any group or political party.
01:24And that is the point. It belongs to all of us.
01:29To England in all its wonder and diversity.
01:33And we should be proud of that flag.
01:35And we must never concede it.
01:37Because it's an expression of our values and our patriotism.