Blair criticised for flying cross of St George at No 10

Published on 08/06/2006 01:17

DOWNING Street was last night forced to defend Tony Blair's decision to fly the English flag above No10 amid claims the Prime Minister is ignoring the rest of the UK.

The Prime Minister's office yesterday confirmed he would be joining the near-hysteria south of the Border over England's World Cup participation by flying the cross of St George on England's match days.

Mr Blair also sent a hand-written letter of encouragement to the England squad in Germany.

The cross of St George is now ubiquitous in England, with even Tessa Jowell, the Culture Secretary, and David Cameron, the Tory leader, displaying the flag in car and office windows.

Rob Gibson, SNP MSP for the Highlands, said Mr Blair's gesture was "typically insensitive" and suggested the Prime Minister had "lost his marbles".

John Kaylor, of the Perthshire branch of the Tartan Army, said Mr Blair was ignoring the other countries in the union. "If he wants to be Prime Minister of England, that's fine by us."

But the Prime Minister's official spokesman insisted it was "not insensitive" to support the only one of the home countries taking part in the World Cup.