Samuel Johnson famously said: “patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel”. Conversely, the ridiculing of patriotism is an essential ingredient of a free society.
But that freedom is constantly tested. On Thursday 18 March, BBC Breakfast presenter Charlie Stayt interviewed UK government minister Robert Jenrick. Behind Jenrick was a large Union Jack flag, and on his wall hung a photo of the Queen. At the conclusion of the interview, Stayt – known for his dry and often sarcastic wit – quipped to Jenrick:
Robert Jenrick, thank you, I think your flag is not up to standard size for government interview measurements. I think it’s just a little bit small, but that’s your department really.
In the background co-presenter Naga Munchetty could be heard laughing. And Jenrick smiled.
Fallout
Munchetty liked a number of tweets in response to the incident on Twitter. However, those likes may have gone against BBC social media guidance, and so she undid them:
I 'liked' tweets today that were offensive in nature about the use of the British flag as a backdrop in a government interview this morning.
I have since removed these 'likes'.
This do not represent the views of me or the BBC.
I apologise for any offence taken.
Naga— Naga Munchetty (@TVNaga01) March 18, 2021
And BBC News tweeted:
BBC Breakfast host Naga Munchetty sorry for liking flag tweets https://t.co/UKWhlZYXmp
— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) March 19, 2021
Munchetty has gotten in hot water before with her employer, when in July 2019 she commented on US president Donald Trump’s racism:
"I've been told as a woman of colour to 'go home'…"
@BBCNaga shares her experience as we discuss the reaction to comments made by President Trump. pic.twitter.com/u0HL5tEdgt— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) July 17, 2019
Responses
With regard to Munchetty’s latest ‘transgression’, this could be summed up as follows: white man makes sarcastic remark, woman of colour laughs and likes tweets, but it’s her who’s made to apologise.
Unsurprisingly, there were a number of responses to what happened on social media:
One man told Munchetty she has nothing to apologise for and that he finds the “adoration” of the flag sinister:
You have nothing to apologise for. A large proportion of right minded people find this sinister adoration of the flag as an unwanted daily intrusion into the news agenda. BBC should not be afraid to call it out and ridicule the ridiculous
— RayB 🇪🇺#RejoinEU🇺🇦#FBPE #NAFO (@BakerRay3) March 18, 2021
And some found it impossible to hold back the humour when it comes to flags:
https://twitter.com/jamesdoleman/status/1372965922265301000?s=20
Meanwhile, Evolve turned the tables and accused Jenrick of being unpatriotic by “unlawfully” helping Tory donor and former Daily Express owner Richard Desmond of avoiding £40m in taxes:
You used your position to unlawfully help a billionaire avoid £40m in tax.
Avoiding paying taxes – money which improves this country – is the most unpatriotic thing a person can do.
Only an idiot would fall for your cheap flag and phoney patriotism.https://t.co/AciOJLhoAA
— Evolve Politics (@evolvepolitics) March 18, 2021
Writer, comic and musician Mike Harding reminded us that:
The Union Jack was known to millions as "The Butcher's Apron" because of the massacres, invasions and colonisations carried out by those carrying it https://t.co/y8e4wAixSR
— Mike Harding AKA Lord Hardinge of Dribblesdale (@HardingMike) March 19, 2021
Indeed, according to British historian Stuart Laycock, there are just 22 countries that Britain hasn’t invaded. ‘World beating’, in Boris Johnson’s parlance.
Or maybe the furore over the size of the flag helps to distract from the £2.6m makeover of a Downing Street press room:
EXCLUSIVE: We've been leaked the first pictures from inside Downing Street's new £2.6m media briefing room. The blue TV set includes four Union Jack flags and was built with the help of a Russian-owned firm.
Full write-up from my producer @NathanLeeTV.https://t.co/cmZ2xnJAcI
— Paul Brand (@PaulBrandITV) March 15, 2021
Distraction
According to HuffPost, Labour leader Keir Starmer has a penchant for the Union Jack too, following:
a leaked strategy presentation that suggested the party should “use the flag, veterans and dressing smartly” to win back disaffected voters.
In other words, the use of flags, by whatever party, is about gaining or retaining power. And with that power comes not just responsibility but, invariably, abuse and corruption. The gaudy displaying of flags distracts from the latest political scandal.
For example:
Those complaining about the BBC & Union Jack..
Why exactly are you SO proud to be British? Is it the 30% of children growing up in poverty? The 300,000 people sleeping on the streets? The government who won’t give nurses a pay rise but will spend millions on a new briefing room?
— Kimberley (@LeftWingKim) March 19, 2021
Or there’s Britain’s world-beating response to the pandemic. According to one set of figures, the number of coronavirus (Covid-19) deaths to date in the UK is 126,122. Compare this to China, which even with its vastly bigger population of 1.4 billion has had only 4,636 coronavirus deaths. That speaks volumes.
Labour MP Jon Tricket provides another thought-provoking perspective, focusing on shocking unemployment figures, poverty levels, cut-backs and austerity, while the rich financially benefit from the pandemic:
Brace yourself. pic.twitter.com/ZGJcKZFx8B
— Jon Trickett MP (@jon_trickett) March 11, 2021
More examples
There are also many examples of Tory cronyism, particularly with regard to personal protective equipment (PPE) contracts.
And then there’s the erosion of workers’ rights post-Brexit:
https://twitter.com/davidschneider/status/1349832258375577607?s=20
Or the loss of millions of pounds in shares trading in the first days after the end of the Brexit transition. No doubt these losses will trickle down to the poorest in society:
Britain appears to have lost a trading business worth circa £1.5 TRILLION a year…
…in the 1st 6 days of Brexit.
Incredible.
Absolutely incredible. https://t.co/AHAHxvC5ct— Nick🇬🇧🇪🇺🇺🇦 (@nicktolhurst) January 6, 2021
Or, post-Brexit, there’s the ending of free movement – unless you’re rich and powerful:
Of course the wealthy are already making sure of their continued EU Citizenship and FOM. pic.twitter.com/fWyaU52CWU
— Dan Murphy (@DanielM91568186) December 28, 2020
Lies and damned lies
Then there are the endless lies by politicians – particularly by Johnson. Here are a few examples:
Boris Johnson’s diabolical record in 2020 – please watch, share, organise. https://t.co/klQD74fBhs
— Margaret Greenwood (@MGreenwoodWW) January 1, 2021
There are many, many more lies – all attributable to the pathological liar who somehow continues to govern the UK.
Mindset
In January 2021, it was reported that Richard Sharp, a former Goldman Sachs banker who donated an estimated £416k to the Conservative Party, was to be chair of the BBC’s board of directors. Sharp happens to be the former boss of UK chancellor Rishi Sunak. He was also an economic adviser to Johnson during Johnson’s time as mayor of London. Sharp joins Conservative supporter Tim Davie, who took over as BBC director general last September.
So when the BBC is run by two Conservative Party supporters, perhaps it’s no coincidence that Munchetty was forced to apologise for liking some tweets. Although this may provide some insight into the mindset of the BBC under its new command. It doesn’t bode well. And the nature of this mindset is of particular cause for concern when we have a government characterised by lies, cronyism, and sheer corruption.
Featured image via YouTube
