Keir Starmer Accused of Forgetting England in St George’s Day Message

Labour Response

A Labour source told the Daily Mail that Sir Keir referred to England and being English a number of times at his St George’s Day Downing Street reception on Monday.

Reform UK Education Policies

Meanwhile, Reform UK has announced a string of education policies ahead of St George’s Day. The party says a Reform UK Government would require every school to mount a picture of the King, fly the Union flag and introduce “patriotic” history classes. These policies would restore “national pride” to the curriculum. Reform has criticised history being taught through “a progressive lens” and says a new curriculum would be implemented in their first 100 days of Government. It argues the subject should reflect a “patriotic history of the British Isles” without being framed in “modern narratives”. Pupils in England would cover events such as the Magna Carta, the Wars of the Roses, the English Civil War, the Glorious Revolution, the Act of Union, the Enlightenment and Victorian Britain. These are all topics which fall within the time periods covered already in GCSE history by exam boards across England.

• Starmer’s St George’s Day message mentions “Britain” repeatedly but not England
• Tory source calls it “out of touch” and “shameful”
• Message focuses on “quiet British patriotism” and defeating “populism”
• Reform UK announces policies for King picture, Union flag and patriotic history in schools
• New curriculum to be implemented in first 100 days if elected

What This Means for Britain

St George’s Day is a celebration of England’s patron saint, yet the Prime Minister’s official message made no mention of England itself. Critics argue this reflects a wider reluctance by some in Labour to celebrate English identity distinctly from British identity. The message’s emphasis on “British patriotism” and integration to defeat “populism” has been seen by opponents as downplaying England’s unique place within the United Kingdom. At a time when many English people feel their national identity is overlooked, the wording has drawn sharp criticism from the Conservatives.

The contrast with Reform UK’s education proposals is clear. The party wants schools to fly the Union flag, display a picture of the King and teach a patriotic history curriculum covering key events in the British Isles. Reform says history should not be framed through “modern narratives” and that national pride should be restored. These policies have been announced ahead of St George’s Day and would be introduced quickly if Reform were in power.

The episode highlights ongoing debates about national identity, patriotism and how England is recognised within the UK. For many, St George’s Day should be a straightforward celebration of England, not an opportunity to focus solely on broader British themes. The public reaction shows that such messages matter to people who want their country’s distinct identity acknowledged.

As the country marks St George’s Day, the row serves as a reminder of the sensitivities around Englishness in modern British politics. Whether the Prime Minister’s choice of wording was deliberate or an oversight, it has reignited discussion about how national days are celebrated and how England fits into the wider United Kingdom narrative.

Share if you believe England deserves to be mentioned on St George’s Day.

This article is a factual summary of reporting by the Daily Express. Full original story available on their website. All quotes directly attributed.