This content is provided by Exco Player and may use cookies or similar technologies. Please click 'Allow and Continue' below to load the content.
Sign up to our free weekly newsletter for exclusive competitions, offers and theatre ticket deals
I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.
Former BBC reporter Danny Kelly has blasted BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty for “mocking” the Union Jack flag.
Munchetty and her co-host Charlie Stayt faced backlash in 2021 for “sneering” at the flag on BBC Breakfast. She later apologised for liking tweets mocking Union flag displays.
On Monday, Kelly appeared on GB News to debate new findings that appeared to show British pride has plummeted in recent years.
He claimed the British flag has been "hijacked" by right-wing Brits and argued that the BBC is “partly responsible” for the decline in national pride.
GB News presenter Martin Daubney asked Kelly: “Are you proud to be British still?"
He replied: "Yes, I'm tremendously proud to be British, Martin, but I'll tell you what infuriates the hell out of me.”
He went on: "I've just come back from Greece, where there are Greek flags flying everywhere. The year before, I was in Turkey, and there were Turkish flags flying everywhere. You don't get dopey, lefty liberals telling you that it's racist to fly flags in Greece or Turkey.
"Do you know what? We are suckers because about 40 or 50 years ago, some progressive left-winger all of a sudden decided to come up with a lie that the Union Jack, which is flying beautifully on our television screens, has been hijacked by the far-right."
He continued: “And the BBC are partly responsible for perpetuating this rubbish. Just remember, Naga Munchetty in 2021, who openly mocked and ridiculed the Union Jack.
“When GB News decided to open up the Breakfast show with the national anthem, believe you me, they would have sneered.
"They would have ridiculed, they would have looked down their noses at GB News in the BBC world, they really would. They've done nothing to help this."
In 2021, Munchetty and Stayt came under fire for laughing at the large Union Jack flag on display behind Reform MP Robert Jenrick while he was giving an interview .