BBC Newsnight uproar after Richard Bacon’s ‘Union Jack flyers prefer Britain to be white’
BBC Newsnight sparked uproar on social media after a show guest’s remarks about Britons flying the flag
Nick Watt was joined on Friday’s edition of BBC Newsnight by presenter Richard Bacon, TalkTV host Alex Phillips, academic Ben Ansell and journalist Kirstie Buchanan. It comes after former professional footballer Gary Neville claimed that the Union Jack flag was being used in a negative fashion to spark division in Britain. The former England footballer made the comments last week following the attack at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue which was carried out by Jihad Al-Shamie. The ex-Manchester United defender said it was not right for the flag to be used in a “negative fashion”. He also claimed the division is being enforced by “angry middle-aged white men”.
Former Blue Peter presenter, Richard, 49, addressed Gary’s comments on the politics show, and suggested that in today’s society flying the flag comes with negative connotations. He commented: “I think it’s about context. Right now, it’s a really sensitive subject. There are times when it’s fine and celebratory when Geri Halliwell was wearing Union Jack pants in the late nineties. That was all fun and playful.”
BBC Newsnight uproar over Richard Bacon’s Union Jack flyers remark (Image: BBC)
He continued: “Right now, if you stick a pole and a Union Jack tomorrow outside your house I think you’re making a statement.
“I think that statement is you’d probably prefer Britain to be more white.”
Alex attempted to interject Richard as BBC presenter Nick also interrupted, saying: “”That’s quite a thing to say. If you put a flag in your garden you’re saying you want Britain to be more white?”
Richard commented: “I think you’re making a statement. Right now it is a sensitive subject. I think to do it now and to get the pole and put the flag outside right now you’re making a statement.”
The Newsnight panel discussed Gary Neville’s flag flying comments (Image: Getty)
Former Blue Peter presenter Richard Bacon doubled down on his comments (Image: BBC)
Richard’s comments sparked a divide on social media as one person said: “What an appalling episode of Newsnight that was.”
Another fumed: “So now flying your own national flag is being framed as a secret code for wanting ‘a more white Britain?’ Absolute nonsense. The Union Jack is not an ethnic banner it represents every citizen of this country regardless of colour, faith or background. It’s flown by Black, Asian, White, mixed-race Britons, by immigrants who chose to become British, by servicemen and women of all backgrounds who fought under it.”
A third vented: “It’s our National flag ffs.”(sic)
A fourth added: “What a spectacularly malicious interpretation to put on a flag!”
Others agreed with Richard’s comments as a social media user wrote: “Richard Bacon is right. Those flags have been hijacked. Which is why it makes me feel uncomfortable and intimidated.”
Richard has since doubled down on his Newsnight comments reposting the clip on his social media account.
He captioned the post: “I agree with me.”
