Corbyn doesn't sing national anthem

[bobjimwilly]

meanwhile, down in the commons...

Commons back Osborne plan for tax credit cuts

Well done to the media and press for letting that one slip under the radar

[RedJ]

The amount of piss boiling over this is absolutely hilarious.

He's a republican, why would he sing it?

[moses]

He was moaned at for joining the Privy council for being a hypocrite. What ever he does will be pulled to pieces.

He should give Cameron a smack during PMQs and claim parliamentary privilege. The papers couldn't hate him anymore than they do.

[Glyn_Wigley]

The amount of piss boiling over this is absolutely hilarious.

He's a republican, why would he sing it?

Same here. I'm an atheist and a republican. Not only will I not sing it, I won't stand up for it either.

[Orlandokarla]

The amount of piss boiling over this is absolutely hilarious.

He's a republican, why would he sing it?

Same here. I'm an atheist and a republican. Not only will I not sing it, I won't stand up for it either.

When you respect the national anthem, you're respecting the country, its people, and those who defend it; not the current figure-head of a monarch and the mythical being mentioned in it.

[River Don]

Corbyn can't win on this one.

If he doesn't sing it then he gets criticised for being unpatriotic.
If he does sing then he gets criticised for being a hypocrite.

I reckon a respectful silence was his best bet. Now the Labour Party have said that from now on he will sing it...

[IDM]

Did anyone see this "story" on News at Ten last night?

It followed a story of children suffering horrific injuries during the violence in Syria.

Now tell me which is the most important story?

Who gives a f**k about Corbyn and the Anthem?  I certainly don't...  It's a non-story and one of the reasons I have nothing to do with politics..

[Draytonian III]

I for one hope he never gets in , for years I voted Labour at every election, by-election,council election, but never again. I just do not see what he brings to the table

[BillyStubbsTears]

Draytonian

He brings the only sanity on macroeconomics being talked by anyone in UK politics for a start.

[Draytonian III]

I have expressed my opinion in which I'm allowed to do

[Iberian Red]

I for one hope he never gets in , for years I voted Labour at every election, by-election,council election, but never again. I just do not see what he brings to the table

Cutlery,napkin and facial hair.

Oh,and maybe a different opinion.

[Glyn_Wigley]

The amount of piss boiling over this is absolutely hilarious.

He's a republican, why would he sing it?

Same here. I'm an atheist and a republican. Not only will I not sing it, I won't stand up for it either.

When you respect the national anthem, you're respecting the country, its people, and those who defend it; not the current figure-head of a monarch and the mythical being mentioned in it.

Give us a national anthem that's about the nation and not about an unelected head of state and their imaginary friend and I'll respect it.

[bobjimwilly]

I have expressed my opinion in which I'm allowed to do

[RedJ]

The way people are carrying off you'd think he'd torn down and shat on the Royal Standard before windmilling in the Queen's face.

Get some f**king perspective.

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

It's a song, not the end of the world.

But given what it means to people, it's a song he should just sing.  Whether he believes in the monarchy or not is irrelevant, it's the symbolism of the song that is important and should be respected really. 

If he really believes it perhaps he should put the removal of the monarchy as a policy and changing of the anthem?  Let's see how real his beliefs are!  There are lots of things I don't really believe in but I have to get on with them don't I?

[bobjimwilly]

But given what it means to people, it's a song he should just sing.  Whether he believes in the monarchy or not is irrelevant, it's the symbolism of the song that is important and should be respected really. 

If he doesn't want to sing a song about a monarchy he doesn't believe in or a god that doesn't exist, then it should be his choice not to sing it, regardless of what it means to others. HOWEVER if he wants to avoid the papers turning such things into a national headline and would rather have them focus on the important issues, then he should maybe just sing the f*cking song LOL

[RobTheRover]

I really hope he sings it in a jazz style, complete with wobbly hand movements.

[bobjimwilly]

interesting article here: http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2015/09/refusing-sing-national-anthem-jeremy-corbyn-joins-long-tradition-respectful

in summary, "it is more important than ever that those with a public platform are allowed to speak – and to sing – freely, or to preserve a dignified silence."

[BillyStubbsTears]

I have expressed my opinion in which I'm allowed to do

In his own way, so did Corbyn over the National Anthem.

[BillyStubbsTears]

It's a song, not the end of the world.

But given what it means to people, it's a song he should just sing.  Whether he believes in the monarchy or not is irrelevant, it's the symbolism of the song that is important and should be respected really. 

If he really believes it perhaps he should put the removal of the monarchy as a policy and changing of the anthem?  Let's see how real his beliefs are!  There are lots of things I don't really believe in but I have to get on with them don't I?

BFYP

1) What exactly IS the symbolism of our National Anthem?

2) Given what saying Allahu Akbar means to people, maybe he should chant that too?

I'm always fascinated that people (not you btw - I'm ribbing you above) who claim that we are better than most countries because we believe in freedom of expression, are often the first ones to get arsey and shout "disgrace" when someone exercises that right in a way that they don't like.

[wheatleylad]

He no longer has the luxury of being a non entity. He is now the leader of the opposition. he must therefore act with some measure of decorum. Whatever his beliefs on the monarchy, the Queen represents the state and so should be respected. The same applies to our anthem. Not to sing is just plainly childish and does him no favours.

[IDM]

Did anyone see this "story" on News at Ten last night?

It followed a story of children suffering horrific injuries during the violence in Syria.

Now tell me which is the most important story?

Who gives a f**k about Corbyn and the Anthem?  I certainly don't...  It's a non-story and one of the reasons I have nothing to do with politics..

bump

[RobTheRover]

I don't remember this outrage when Wayne Rooney didn't sing the national anthem.

[IDM]

I don't remember this outrage when Wayne Rooney didn't sing the national anthem.

Precisely, it's a non-story.

[RedJ]

He no longer has the luxury of being a non entity. He is now the leader of the opposition. he must therefore act with some measure of decorum. Whatever his beliefs on the monarchy, the Queen represents the state and so should be respected. The same applies to our anthem. Not to sing is just plainly childish and does him no favours.

Eyup Mick

[idler]

I wonder if he would sing the national anthem if it was the red flag?
He and his supporters have just hijacked the Labour Party as a vehicle
For their unelectable policies. It's Militant all over again.

[RedJ]

I wonder if he would sing the national anthem if it was the red flag?

Well yes. Because he believes in its lyrics.

Unlike GSTQ. As he's an atheist. And a republican.

[Filo]

I wonder if he would sing the national anthem if it was the red flag?
He and his supporters have just hijacked the Labour Party as a vehicle
For their unelectable policies. It's Militant all over again.

I disagree, they haven't hijacked anything, they were democratically elected by the members of the Labour party

[BillyStubbsTears]

Well. Throughout the 80s, the Bennites insisted that Labour was losing elections because it wasn't sufficiently far to the left. We'll see know.

As for the poppy and the IRA and the tie and the national anthem, I have to say I am squirming with embarrassment watching this.

Apparently Corbyn's spokesman has said that he WILL sing the NA in future. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34263447

So this doesn't come across as a principled stance. It comes across as a puerile, ill-thought out stance from someone who has made a career sniping from the sidelines and showing off his ideological purity, but who is now having to grow up rapidly.

If you don't believe in singing the NA and you really want to stick to that line, don't f**king sing it.

If you don't believe in the NA but you're prepared to grit your teeth and swallow your principles to out on a facade, f**king sing it.

What you DON'T do is to amateurishly draw the attention into your principles, then apologise for them and say that you'll change.

He's living up to exactly what I've always thought he was. A student politician who never grew up. I fear that he will be slowly chewed up and spat out. Not rapidly, though he could be. The Tories don't want him out quickly because then Labour might come to its senses. They will torture him with excruciating slowness. Roast him at Gas Mark 2.

I am truly shellshocked that Labour's members could have been so self-indulgently stupid.

[River Don]

John McDonnell was engaged in a lot of apologising for things he had said in the past on QT last night too. Though I thought he made a decent effort in explaining what motivated him at the time. It seems being thrust into a position of responsibility is really forcing them to reassess.

Corbyn should probably have stuck to not singing the NA, by agreeing to do it in future he will only draw more attention to it and he's now succeeded in making himself look silly for the reasons BST has pointed out.