Bragg call for new anthem
By Michael Ellison, Evening Standard
23 April 2003
Singer Billy Bragg today called for God Save The Queen to be scrapped as the anthem for the England football team in favour of Jerusalem by William Blake.

In a bid to combat the sort of racist abuse that marred the Euro 2004 qualifier against Turkey, Bragg also wants the flag of St George to be adopted as the supporters' main emblem.

Bragg, who will speak at Keep The Flags Flying, a cultural football conference in Shoreditch, east London tonight, is a passionate England fan and believes a change of imagery could encourage a more positive attitude among supporters.

He said: "We need to give the positive fans something to express their identity. You can't proscribe any expression of love for the team. You can proscribe racism and negative chanting and we've got to make a community out of the positive fans who are prepared to stand up to the minority.

"Jerusalem is a much more uplifting song than God Save The Queen. Why are we singing a song that doesn't even mention our country? I was at the Australia game at Upton Park and we held up the Flag of St George in the Bobby Moore Stand and that made me feel proud. But the British national anthem being played. Not English, but British. Everyone else has their song, why can't we?''

Bragg also strongly condemned racism on the terraces which he blames on a "negative minority".

He said: "We need zero tolerance for racism, we need better policing of racism in the stadiums, we need to make sure the stewards are backed up by the police. The value of our multi-cultural team can't be overestimated. Owen, a Welsh name. Rooney, an Irish name. Emile Heskey. No one should have to deny their ethnic background to be English. I've got a hunch that it's more important for Darius Vassell to be where he is, in the six-yard box, than where his parents are from."

David Beckham has called for England's next home game against Slovakia to be played behind closed doors to teach the racists a lesson, but Bragg said that such an extreme measure was not required.

He added: "I wouldn't welcome it because it penalises the majority of English fans and I don't see how that's fair.

"But it's going to need some shock like that to make things happen. Still, I don't want the Slovakia game behind closed doors."