Jennifer McKiernanPolitical reporter and
Brian WheelerPolitical reporter
PA Media
Former Lib Dem leader Tim Farron draped himself in a flag and declared his love for his country at the opening night rally of the party’s conference in Bournemouth.
“We will not have our history, our heritage, and our home stolen by the poison of nationalism,” the MP roared as he called on members to “reclaim patriotism” from the far right.
Farron’s flag – a design for fans of football team Blackburn Rovers – featured the Cross of St George with a union jack in one corner. And confetti cannons rained glitter over him as the brass bombast of Land of Hope and Glory rang out and a giant union jack appeared on the screen behind him.
The theatrics seemed to work, as a membership sometimes mocked for its mild-mannered approach got to its collective feet and filled the air with whoops of approval and the flutter of hundreds of mini flags.
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Sir Ed Davey bangs the drum for patriotism in Bournemouth
Farron told a hall full of activists to “stop being so flaming squeamish and English” and reclaim the UK’s flags from groups who seek to “divide and destroy”.
“Be proud of your country, the British flag and the flags of our four nations,” he said. “They are ours. They belong to all of us. Let’s take them back. Let’s wave them with pride.”
“Let us reclaim our flags for those who would reunite and rebuild, not divide and destroy, because we will not yield our identity, our flag, or our country, to the nationalists.
“A Britain that may be broken by the wickedness of hatred, fake news and isolation, but a Britain that I passionately believe is not beyond healing.”
At the end of his speech, the MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale held aloft the giant flag bearing the slogans “Pride of Lancashire” and “Rovers til I Die”, in support of his football team Blackburn Rovers.
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The Liberal Democrats are going all out this week to claim that they are the true patriots, in contrast to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who they have dubbed a “plastic patriot”.
They have even created a “plastic patriot” Farage Lego figure, which is included in a welcome pack being handed out to journalists.
For a party that has largely shunned flag-waving displays of national pride, this is a new departure.
But the party’s MPs are eager to take the fight to Reform and insert themselves into the national debate, as St George’s Cross and Union flag are displayed in towns and cities across the UK.
The Lib Dems seek to make Nigel Farage a figure of fun
Leader Sir Ed Davey was greeted by a flag-waving crowd of party activists as he led a marching band through Bournemouth Central Gardens, twirling a baton – a deliberately patriotic twist on his trademark stunts.
The band, which had arrived on the ferry from the Isle of Wight, played Sweet Caroline, a favourite among England football fans, as they came to a halt in front of the Bournemouth conference centre.
Elsewhere, a group calling themselves “Bournemouth Patriots” protested outside a hotel in the town being used to house migrants.
The group stood with national flags outside of the Roundhouse Hotel in the centre of the town, and were met by a counter-protest.
The Lib Dem leader told reporters: “The vast majority of people who’ve got decent values, respect for the rule of law, tolerance, who love our country like the Liberal Democrats do.
“They want to see a party that is true to British values but will change our country.”