1:40pm Friday 4th May 2012
By Newsdesk
A Wharfedale MP has stepped up his long-running campaign in support of an English national anthem.
Greg Mulholland (Lib Dem, Leeds North West) has been calling for years for England to use its own anthem, rather than the British God Save the Queen, at sporting events.
He has now tabled a new Parliamentary motion which welcomes fresh calls from several campaigning groups, such as British Future and Anthem4England, and asks the Government to back the move.
Mr Mulholland said: “God Save the Queen is the UK national anthem. It is absolutely right that this should be played when teams are competing as the United Kingdom.
“It is quite wrong, however, that England use the British national anthem when competing as England, rather than as Great Britain, particularly when playing the other home nations – who also have God Save the Queen as their British national anthem.
“It is time England had an anthem it could call its own that we could celebrate whenever an English team or athlete takes to the sporting arena.
“The run-up to Euro 2012 is the ideal opportunity for the Government to speak up for our English identity, and get behind the campaign for an English national anthem.”
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