Keir Starmer dons Downing Street in St George's flags hours after England flag 'blunder'
Downing Street was decked up in St George's flags within two days of Keir Starmer moving into Number 10.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has brought in major changes to the outlook of Downing Street just days after one key ommission sparked backlash.
Just a day after Labour won the election and he held his first address outside Number 10, the street was decked in St George's flags.
The Three Lions's upcoming Euro 2024 quarter-final match against Switzerland on Saturday was at the heart of the decision.
The bunting was hung ahead of Sir Keir's first meeting with his new Cabinet and his first press conference since ousting Rishi Sunak last Friday.
It comes after the new Prime Minister faced criticism over the optics of his first speech on Friday.
Mr Starmer was greeted by party and campaign members waving Union Jack, Welsh and Saltire flags – but no St George's flags.
One person commented on X, the site formerly known as Twitter: "Why is no one flying a wee St George cross flag in Downing Street? I see the Saltire, Welsh dragon & Union Flag, but no English flags. Seems quite poor optics."
Another chimed in: "Just watching the group in Downing Street waving flags, fair enough but where's the English flag? They have Union flags, Saltires and Welsh.
"Where's the Cross of St George? Aye, start as you mean to go on right enough."
England ultimately beat Switzerland in shootouts and will now face The Netherlands in the semi-finals.
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The Labour Party has had a somewhat difficult relationship with the St George's flag for years.
Despite Sir Keir urging party members to fly the flag proudly in a Telegraph op-ed ahead of St George's Day earlier this year, a poll at the time found Labour supporters were more likely to describe it as "racist and divisive".
The Prime Minister said he had "no time for those who flinch at displaying our flag.... because the cross of St George belongs to every person who loves this country and seeks to make it better - a symbol of pride, belonging and inclusion."
But a poll of 5,400 voters conducted on behalf of pollster Lord Ashcroft showed the flag remains a key issue for Labour members.
Thirteen percent of respondents, equal to more than one in eight, said the St George's flag is a "racist" symbol compared to one percent of Conservative voters.