Sir Gareth Southgate comes under fire as ex-England manager says row over flying St George's flag risks wrecking national 'unity'

Gareth Southgate is taking flak after claiming that people flying the St George's flag risk compromising national 'unity'.

The former England manager was asked for his views about the spurt of flags appearing around the nation on BBC Breakfast.

'I worry about unity. I've seen what we did with the team [England] to unify every community,' he said. 

'I do think there's more that bonds us all than separates us. We should try and focus more on what brings us together than what separates us.'

He becomes the latest football figure to take stick for his views on the flags - which have admittedly divided opinion - after Gary Neville also spoke out against them.

'Worried about Unity? I really don’t understand Southgate,' one user wrote on X. 'The Cross of St George is the flag of England - the country he represented. It is the national flag. How can that be divisive? Please someone explain his attitude to me.'

'Oh do shove it Southgate.....no one is interested in your opinion of flying a national flag,' said another - though he was, of course, asked for his take. 

One wrote: 'Southgate, is a dreary, dullard conformist, that's why he was chosen by the FA to manage England even though he had been a failure as club manager. 

'Hence he went along with the racist, divisive Critical Race Theory-inspired 'taking the knee' insult to British society. He's a truly awful manifestation of the corporate 'enemy class' of the British people.'

More to follow.