One in eight Labour voters think the English flag is “racist and divisive and should not be displayed”, according to a new poll.
The research by Lord Ashcroft Polls found there is widespread support for the St George’s Cross among the general public with almost three-quarters agreeing it is “a symbol to represent England and no one should be offended by it”.
But among 2019 Labour backers the figure drops to 56%, compared to nine in 10 Tory voters.
Some 13% of Labour voters said the flag is “racist and divisive and should not be displayed” in the survey of more than 5,400 people.
A Tory source told the Daily Mail that Labour still appeared to be “a party that hates Britain”.
It comes as Sir Keir Starmer has attempted to rebrand Labour as “the patriotic party”.
The Labour leader used an opinion piece ahead of St George’s Day to speak of his “pride and gratitude” at being English.
He insisted he had “no time for those who flinch at displaying our flag” and described the cross of St George as a “symbol of pride, belonging and inclusion”.
Sir Keir also accused the Conservatives of denigrating “some of our proudest national institutions” such as the BBC and the National Trust.
His comments come after a backbench Labour MP last month claimed the party’s use of the Union flag on its campaign material was “detrimental” to its chances in areas with large ethnic minority populations.
Meanwhile, Labour MP Emily Thornberry resigned from the shadow cabinet in 2014 after being accused of snobbery when she tweeted a picture of a house in Rochester, Kent, with St George’s flags and a white van parked outside.
