Sir Keir Starmer has been branded a ‘plastic patriot’ and ‘the most unpatriotic Prime Minister’ for refusing to fly the St George’s Cross outside No 10 during England’s World Cup group matches. 

The Prime Minister has decided against flying the flag for early games in the Summer tournament in a break from a tradition followed by his predecessors – after local councils urged locals not to hang flags.

Previous prime ministers, including David Cameron and Theresa May, routinely flew the England flag on match days during the tournament’s group stages.

But Starmer has refused to raise England’s banner in the early stages, despite declaring last St George’s Day that Britain ‘should be proud of that flag’.

The PM’s spokesperson has previously said that staff at No 10 ‘put up English flags all around Downing Street every time the English football team, women’s and men’s are out, trying to win games for us.’ 

But they do not appear to have delivered on this promise for the 2026 World Cup – with no banners seen as the PM met Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte this morning – stoking outrage among critics who have accused the PM of failing to be patriotic.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage told the Daily Mail today: ‘I have long said Keir Starmer is the most unpatriotic Prime Minister in my lifetime – he hasn’t changed. 

‘The flag will always fly during major tournaments if Reform win the next election.’

Kevin Hollinrake, chairman of the Conservative Party, branded the departing PM a ‘plastic patriot’.

Boris Johnson showing his support for England during Euro 2020 (in 2021). Keir Starmer has been criticised for failing to support the Three Lions from the get–go with a flag at No 10

Keir Starmer greeting Nato’s secretary-general Mark Rutte at Downing Street today, with no flags in sight despite England’s progression to the knockout stages of the World Cup

Mr Johnson also put up England’s banner for the Women’s Euro 2022 final – in which they thrashed Germany 2–1 (pictured: Larry the Cat enjoying the decor)

‘Keir Starmer can’t even bring himself to fly the England flag from Number Ten for the World Cup. He is just another Labour Party plastic patriot,’ he told the Mail.

‘Labour should be proud of our flag and our history. Yet it seems there something about the St George’s Cross that offends this lame duck PM.

‘The Conservatives, like most of our country, will be backing the England team all the way.’

David Cameron enshrined the tradition of flying the flag at Downing Street in 2010 after the Three Lions qualified for the World Cup in South Africa.

He had been asked in the Commons by then–Conservative MP Nadhim Zahawi whether he would ‘cut through the bureaucracy and nonsense and fly the flag of England over Downing street for the duration of the World Cup’.

Confirming it would be done at ‘no additional cost to the taxpayer’, Mr Cameron added: ‘I am sure that everyone in the House, no matter what part of the UK they come from, will be cheering, “Come on England”.’

But even as Leader of the Opposition he was unafraid to show his patriotism, being in 2006 leaving his Notting Hill home on his bicycle with an England flag strapped to the pannier rack. 

And in 2018, Theresa May said she would fly the flag for England towards the end of the group stages in the World Cup that year, following a media campaign.

‘No. 10 will be flying the England flag on the day of each of England’s matches from now on, and we will be encouraging other Government departments to do the same,’ she said, adding that she would repeat the act for the 2019 Women’s World Cup.

Boris Johnson also flew St George’s Cross at Downing Street from the quarter finals of the Euro 2020 tournament, and put up England bunting and flags to celebrate England women’s 2–1 Euro 2022 final victory over Germany.

His successor, Rishi Sunak, draped Number 10 in patriotic decor for the final of the Fifa Women’s World Cup between Spain and England a year later.

Starmer has since dressed Downing Street in England flags only for the final of the Euro 2024 tournament, and for a reception celebrating England women’s win against Spain in Euro 2025 hosted by Angela Rayner.

But the only sign of support from No 10 this year has been a pair of Instagram posts featuring chief mouser Larry the Cat posing with a St George’s Cross and a World Cup ball, captioned: ‘Good luck tonight @england!’ 

Downing Street says it will fly flags now that England has reached the knockout stages, with plans to put them up on Wednesday ahead of their next game against the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

A No 10 spokesperson said there were plans to fly the flag during knockout stage matches, adding that the same approach would have applied to the Saltire for Scotland, had Steve Clarke’s men managed to get past the group stages.

The spokesperson said: ‘We’ll fly the flag for knockout matches in line with previous tournaments.’ 

Theresa May flew St George’s Cross from the top of No 10 from the end of the group stgaes during the 2018 World Cup (pictured)

Downing Street’s support for England has so far amounted to a pair of Instagram posts featuring Larry alongside a St George’s Cross and a World Cup ball (pictured) 

However, Scotland crashed out of the World Cup on Saturday night after being pushed out of the top eight of third–place group finishers who have now advanced to the knockout stages of the ‘expanded’ 2026 tournament.

The row comes after a number of local authorities in England dissuaded residents from putting up St George’s Cross in support of their national team – with one warning it could ruin ‘a welcoming and cohesive community feel’.

Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Shropshire are among the local authorities urging locals not to attach flags to lampposts or signs without permission, instead encouraging them to fly them at home.

Flags nevertheless flew on Bristol’s Torrington Avenue, which lays claim to being England’s most patriotic street, as the Three Lions’ campaign got underway.

Immigration officers working in short-term holding facilities for migrants were also warned not to wear England patches or badges on their uniforms for fear of scaring migrants.

A report by the watchdog the Independent Monitoring Board concluded that staff wearing badges bearing St George’s Cross could create ‘perceptions of bias or even intimidation’ among detainees held while their immigration status is assessed.