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Murphy admits Labour flag error Murphy admits Labour flag error
(about 2 hours later)
Labour blundered in the 1990s by allowing the SNP to "monopolise" the saltire, Scotland's Secretary of State has admitted.Labour blundered in the 1990s by allowing the SNP to "monopolise" the saltire, Scotland's Secretary of State has admitted.
Jim Murphy said his party had allowed the national symbol to be "co-opted as an image of nationalism".Jim Murphy said his party had allowed the national symbol to be "co-opted as an image of nationalism".
In doing so, Labour repeated its mistake of allowing Margaret Thatcher to "claim the mantle of patriotism" with the union flag, he said.In doing so, Labour repeated its mistake of allowing Margaret Thatcher to "claim the mantle of patriotism" with the union flag, he said.
He made the admission in a speech to international students in Stirling.He made the admission in a speech to international students in Stirling.
During the talk Mr Murphy said it was time to reclaim the saltire and argued that there was no contradiction between Scottish and British identities.During the talk Mr Murphy said it was time to reclaim the saltire and argued that there was no contradiction between Scottish and British identities.
Jim Murphy was speaking at the University of Stirling
"All of us - across political parties and across civic Scotland - should challenge the notion that Scottishness belongs to any one political party," he said."All of us - across political parties and across civic Scotland - should challenge the notion that Scottishness belongs to any one political party," he said.
'Socially divisive'
"All of us who value a strong Britain should embrace Scottishness, its emotions and symbols even more than we already do."All of us who value a strong Britain should embrace Scottishness, its emotions and symbols even more than we already do.
"Patriotism, national pride and the saltire belong to all Scots.""Patriotism, national pride and the saltire belong to all Scots."
Mr Murphy said that having a strong sense of patriotism did not translate into "a rise in separatism".Mr Murphy said that having a strong sense of patriotism did not translate into "a rise in separatism".
He told his Stirling audience: "In the 1980s the Labour Party lost its way and Scotland - and Britain - paid the price.He told his Stirling audience: "In the 1980s the Labour Party lost its way and Scotland - and Britain - paid the price.
"We allowed Margaret Thatcher to claim the mantle of patriotism and wrap herself in the union flag."We allowed Margaret Thatcher to claim the mantle of patriotism and wrap herself in the union flag.
"By keeping patriotism and its symbols at arm's length, the Labour Party helped the Tories to claim that their socially divisive economic policies were in the national interest.""By keeping patriotism and its symbols at arm's length, the Labour Party helped the Tories to claim that their socially divisive economic policies were in the national interest."
He said the mistake had been repeated in the 1990s in Scotland.He said the mistake had been repeated in the 1990s in Scotland.
"We allowed the SNP to monopolise the saltire." He said."We allowed the SNP to monopolise the saltire." He said.
"We allowed our national symbol - St Andrew's Cross - to be co-opted as an image of nationalism."We allowed our national symbol - St Andrew's Cross - to be co-opted as an image of nationalism.
"Patriotism and nationalism are not the same thing. All nationalists are patriots. But not all patriots are nationalist.""Patriotism and nationalism are not the same thing. All nationalists are patriots. But not all patriots are nationalist."