Sir Keir Starmer backs calls for Nike to scrap New England football kits over redesigned St George’s Cross

Sir Keir Starmer has backed criticism of Nike changing the St George’s cross on the back of New England’s shirts.

this labor Leaders have called on sports manufacturers to switch back to multi-coloured flags.

His comments came after a social media firestorm over the change, with people calling for a boycott of the US sports manufacturer.

start after queue Nike releases images of New England jerseys online This will be used in this summer’s Euro 24 Championship.

While some photos showed off the new purple color for the “away” jersey, as well as the classic white “home” jersey, one of the X posts showed off a new pattern on the back of the jersey, including purple, blue, black and red crosses, with the caption : “A playful update to the St. George flag appears on collars to unite and inspire.”

Previously, shirts often featured the red and white colors of the St. George flag.

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Thousands of X users have reacted to the new kit, the vast majority of which have been negative, with many attacking it as unnecessary or “disrespectful”. Some accused Nike of being “woke,” and many urged people not to buy Nike products.

sir keir He joined in the criticism when asked by The Sun if changing the color was “wrong”.

“Yes, I think so,” he said.

“As you know, I’m a huge football fan. I watch England games – men’s and women’s games – and everyone uses the flag.

“It’s a continuum and it doesn’t need to change, we just need to be proud of it – so, I think they should reconsider that and change it back.”

He continued: “I’m not even sure they can properly explain why they thought it needed to be changed in the first place.

“One more thing for me, they could also lower the price of the shirts – I think it was £130.”

On Nike’s website, the men’s and women’s home team shirts are priced at £124.99.

Nike describes the new jersey as follows: “The England 2024 home jersey is a modern take on a classic that subverts history.

“The trim on the cuffs is inspired by the training kit worn by England’s heroes in 1966, with a blue and red gradient with purple at the top.

“The same colors also feature an interpretation of the St. George flag on the back of the collar.”

One social media user responded to Nike’s post asking: “What other country’s flag have you done this to?”

Another said, “It’s none of your business,” while a third said: “Looks awful, I’ll be wearing my old England shirt even if I get bean juice in it, I’d rather wear that than this .”

Nike, which is also launching a range of other international kits at the same time, has yet to comment on the storm.

England have yet to comment beyond announcing the availability of the shirts, which go on sale today, on social media.

There are now less than 100 days to go until Euro 2024 kicks off in Germany in June, with England and Scotland already qualified and Wales set to face Poland on Tuesday for one of the play-off places.

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In a wide-ranging interview with The Sun, Sir Keir was unable to commit to keeping the pensions triple lock in place throughout his five-year term if he became prime minister.

He said: “Well, I believe in the triple lock. I don’t think the government should be opening this debate and saying they’re going to stick to it.”

“Obviously we have to understand the state of the economy as we go into the election and we will publish all our plans as we go in and answer that question, but I believe in a triple lockdown.”

He also refused to say whether he took drugs in college, saying he “had a great time” as a student.