Reform MP Lee Anderson has stirred up controversy with a new video about St. George’s Day, which he shared on social media with a bizarre ‘Trigger Warning’ to fans of “advacado” and supporters of the Palestinian cause.
Anderson, a former Tory MP suspended for racist remarks about London Mayor Sadiq Khan, celebrated the annual feast day by posting a video showing off a pair of cufflinks adorned with the St. George’s Cross.
“Look at these here, the flag of St. George,” said Anderson, pointing to his cufflinks. “It’s St. George’s Day today and this country of ours has been a gift to the world. Look at the industrial revolution, culture, arts, music, sport – everywhere you look on this planet, you see some of that. Oh, by the way, happy birthday William Shakespeare.”
In the caption for the post, Anderson wrote: “Trigger Warning. If you are a Guardian reading, advacado eating, Palestinian flag waving, Eddie Izzard supporting Vegan then this clip is probably not for your consumption.”
His remarks drew amusement on Twitter, where critics pointed out his misspelling of the word “avocado” and noted the connection between Palestine and St. George, who is celebrated not just in England, but also in parts of Africa, the Middle East, the Caucasus, and South America.
Comedian Shaparak Khorsandi tweeted: “Who is going to tell him about St. George’s connection to Palestine? (His mother was Palestinian, they too have a St. George’s day/feast. Though, to be fair, it is not known if he was related to Eddie Izzard).”
Anderson’s reference to Izzard remains unclear, but he has previously been criticized for “vile” remarks about the transgender actor and Labour candidate.
In a reference to Anderson’s past claims about food banks, which earned him the nickname “30p Lee” in some quarters, podcaster Marina Purkiss joked: “What is an advacado and can I buy one for 30p?”
Anderson’s video featured in a separate clip posted by Reform UK, in which he stands in front of a large England flag and says: “Hello everyone, happy St. George’s Day. Look at this behind me – I’m a proud Englishman, I’m proud to be British as well. But are you fed up with people dissing our history, our heritage, our culture? I am. Love the flag, please share it.”
Reform UK’s leader, Richard Tice, also posted a clip from London’s Regent Street, claiming that the “political elite” are “ashamed of our flag” and vowing that “Reform UK would ensure every city in the country is encouraged to fly our great flag on St. George’s Day”.
Anderson’s comments and the Reform UK videos have reignited the debate over “culture wars” and the role of politicians in fueling such divisions. Polling by Ipsos and King’s College London in November suggested that the majority of British voters felt politicians were using culture wars to distract from other “important” issues.
