Downing Street has finally put up St George’s flags and bunting for England’s World Cup semi final with Argentina, but fans have mocked the “pub like” display as too little too late
Number 10 is finally flying the flag for England at the World Cup – but it looks more like an old East End boozer. Two flags of St George hung limply in the front windows of the Prime Minister’s Downing Street residence ahead of Wednesday’s (July 15) semi-final showdown with Argentina.
England bunting – made up of dozens of mini-St George’s crosses – was strung across the iron railings either side of the most famous front door in the land. But unimpressed fans moaned it was “too little” and “way too late”.
The England team boasts a 76% win rate while Sir Keir Starmer has been in office – the best record under any serving Prime Minister in history.
But Number 10 appears to have struggled to show its backing for Thomas Tuchel ’s boys return. The bunting remained boxed away for the Three Lions’ opening matches against Croatia, Ghana and Panama.
It was only after England topped the group – and Tory Party chairman dubbed the PM a “plastic patriot” – that flags began to emerge. Starmer, a keen football fan, has repeatedly tweeted his support for the team.
And after Saturday’s quarter-final victory, he fired off a cheeky message to his Norwegian counterpart Jonas Gahr Store, saying: “Your boys took one hell of beating.” It mocked radio commentator Bjørge Lillelien’s triumphant “Maggie Thatcher, can you hear me” rant after Norway beat England 2-1 in a World Cup qualifier in 1981.
But England fans seem unconvinced by Downing Street’s show of patriotism. One fan moaned: “It looks like a pub.
!Too little, too late. Downing Street should have been covered in flags before a ball was kicked.”
Another said: “St George’s Cross? Not half he is – he’d be bloody livid.
“What a half-a***** effort. They’ll need to sharpen up if we win.”
The tradition of PMs flying the flag for football began in earnest under David Cameron in 2010. Theresa May declared Number 10 was “proud to fly the flag” to cheer on the Three Lions at the World Cup in Russia in 2018.
And Downing Street received a red-and-white makeover for the Euro 2024 final at the start of Sir Keir’s premiership. The street was draped in England’s flag last year after the Lionesses beat Spain to retain the Women’s Euros.
But both the St George’s and Union Jack flags have recently been at the centre of controversy with critics linking their flying to nationalism and the far-right. Sir Keir opted not to fly the St George’s Cross during group games but appears to have u-turned as the team charged towards the final.
A spokesman for Number 10 said: “The Prime Minister is incredibly proud to support England and to see the whole country come together behind the team.”
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