Saira Khan, a British Asian and former Loose Women panellist, has urged England fans to reclaim the St George's Cross from the far right by wearing it proudly during the Euro 2020 final. Writing in the Sunday Mirror, Khan said the flag had been 'toxified' by racist groups but that she would wear it to support a team where eight of 11 players have immigrant heritage.
Khan, born in Nottingham to Pakistani parents, recalled the impact of Enoch Powell's 1968 'Rivers of Blood' speech, which she said fuelled hatred and made life hard for non-white Britons. She also criticised Norman Tebbit's 'cricket test' and Nigel Farage's comments about an 'unrecognisable' England, calling them 'ignorant and fear-mongering'.
Despite decades of discrimination, Khan said she now feels she belongs, seeing representation in culture, politics, media and sport. She posted a photo of herself wearing the flag online, describing it as 'my way of sticking two fingers up at those who use it to represent racism and hatred'.
'The only way to beat racism is to take control of what they fight with. And own it!' she wrote, encouraging fans to unite behind the team on Sunday.
