Rishi Sunak at the moment repeated a warning that sports activities package producers ‘should not mess’ with nationwide flags amid a row over Group GB’s ‘inclusive’ flag for the Paris Olympics.
Downing Avenue reiterated the Prime Minister’s view that the UK’s nationwide flags are ‘good as they’re’ after the controversy lower than a fortnight in the past over a redesigned St George’s Cross on the England males’s soccer shirt for Euro 2024 in Germany.
Requested in regards to the controversial new Group GB merchandise following a rebrand of the Union Jack to now incorporate pink and purple colors, a Quantity 10 spokeswoman instructed reporters at the moment: ‘I’ve not spoken to him in regards to the particular Group GB package.
‘He was requested beforehand about package and he mentioned his normal view is that in terms of our nationwide flags we should not mess with them. They’re a supply of satisfaction, id, who we’re and he thinks they’re good as they’re.
‘As he mentioned on the time, in relation to the Euros package, the PM is answerable for many issues however the Euros package and the Group GB package aren’t one.’
Group GB’s rebrand of the Union Jack colors, choosing pink and purple, has confronted a backlash
The brand new Group GB Union Jack branding which options pink and purple colors on the flag
Rishi Sunak, pictured with Gareth Southgate at St George’s Park on October 10 final 12 months
The brand new rebrand has been met with a backlash from sports activities followers and former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton.
He instructed The Solar: ‘It feels that nothing is held sacred as of late within the UK. Our nationwide flag has been symbolic for a few years and will by no means be modified.’
And Malcom Farrow, president of the Flag Institute charity, mentioned he did not ‘approve’ of the ‘nationwide image of unity’ being ‘defaced’.
The designers, Tub-based company Thisaway, mentioned they wanted to discover a method to ‘refresh’ the color palette in a means that was each ‘versatile and ownable’.
A press release on their web site mentioned that though the crimson, white and blue colors had been ‘synonymous with Nice Britain’, they had been ‘removed from distinctive’.
It’s a wholesale rebrand which seems to be to enchantment to a ‘new era of sports activities followers’, with flags and T-shirts accessible to buy on the web site.
Group GB mentioned that they had obtained ‘very constructive’ suggestions from members of the general public relating to the rebrand. The Group GB ‘Supporters Flag’ is obtainable for £12 whereas the bunting is £13 and T-shirts are £26.50.
It comes after Mr Sunak voiced his dislike of the multi-coloured St George’s Cross on England’s new package final month, saying we ‘mustn’t mess’ with nationwide flags.
A Group GB water bottle that includes the brand new Union Jack rebrand forward of the Paris Olympics
The brand new rebrand is featured on flags, bunting and t-shirts accessible to buy on the web site
The FA and Nike defended modifications to the St George’s Cross on the England shirt final month
The Prime Minister joined a refrain of criticism from former England gamers, politicians and followers, who condemned producer Nike and the Soccer Affiliation over the brand new blue, purple and crimson design.
Requested in regards to the redesign on a go to to Derbyshire, Mr Sunak, who helps Southampton FC, mentioned: ‘I would desire the unique (flag) and my normal view is that in terms of the nationwide flags we should always not mess with them as a result of they’re a supply of satisfaction and id – who we’re – and they’re good as they’re.’
Nike mentioned the brand new blue, crimson and purple flag represented a ‘playful replace’ whereas cuffs in the identical colors had been meant as a homage to the 1966 World Cup profitable squad’s coaching package.
The colors are much like these of the bisexual satisfaction flag – blue, pink and purple.
Labour chief Sir Keir Starmer mentioned the England flag is a ‘unifier’ which ‘does not want fixing’.
One other ex-England goalkeeper, David Seaman, mentioned he believed many in his era of gamers would have refused to put on it.
Labour chief Sir Keir Starmer mentioned the England flag is a ‘unifier’ which ‘does not want fixing’
However Nike and the FA defended the change, with a spokesman for the latter saying the brand new package had a ‘variety of design components’ paying tribute to the 1966 World Cup winners.
