A TORY MP has sparked a massive social media backlash after backing a campaign to get portraits of the Queen put up in homes and workplaces across the UK.
Joy Morrissey, the US-born representative for Beaconsfield, is championing the initiative in partnership with the British Monarchists Society.
It aims to “put a portrait of Her Majest in every home, company, and institution that would like one”.
The statement adds: “It is time to rediscover our pride in being British!”
The idea has been condemned as “divisive” and “jingoistic”.
Morrissey announced on Twitter that she is writing to Boris Johnson to ask him to back the campaign.
“I think this is a wonderful, patriotic and unifying campaign for our country,” she posted.
“I will be writing to the Prime Minister to ask him to give it careful consideration and looking for opportunities to discuss further in Parliament.”
I think this is a wonderful, patriotic and unifying campaign for our country. I will be writing to the Prime Minister to ask him to give it careful consideration and looking for opportunities to discuss further in Parliament. 👑🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/Y2nU4yhGRP
— Joy Morrissey MP (@joymorrissey) June 23, 2021
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The tweet prompted an overwhelmingly negative response online.
Twitter user Amanda Brooks replied: “What sort of place has the UK become, when we have an MP who considers portraits of the queen to be a priority, during a pandemic, with people struggling to make ends meet?”
Christopher John added: “Ridiculous – This is the UK and not North Korea.”
The Tory MP was also rounded on by several high-profile figures.
Dragons’ Den business tycoon Deborah Meaden wrote: “Don’t be bloody ridiculous. Divisive, jingoistic and stinking of the portraits put up in fear in despotic Countries. Our Queen deserves more respect than shallow display.”
Don’t be bloody ridiculous. Divisive, jingoistic and stinking of the portraits put up in fear in despotic Countries. Our Queen deserves more respect than shallow display. https://t.co/kaS74ZiPWo
— Deborah Meaden 💙 (@DeborahMeaden) June 24, 2021
Journalist Ian Dunt commented: “If these people had the slightest idea what there is to be proud of about Britain, they'd not be coming up with this godawful silliness.”
The backlash comes as the UK Government faces criticism for encouraging school children across the UK to celebrate “One Britain One Nation Day”.
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon delivers scathing verdict on One Britain One Nation project
The Department for Education has is asking schools in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland to participate in the event, with children urged to sing a British nationalist song.
In response, Nicola Sturgeon said: “I have to say when I saw it on social media yesterday I assumed it was a spoof, I didn’t think it was real.
“I’m trying to imagine the outrage there would be if the Scottish Government was insisting or even encouraging Scottish school kids to sing some song about how great Scotland is.
“People would be – and rightly so – up in arms about it. It’s ludicrous and it perhaps says everything about the disinterest the UK Government has in Scotland that they’re asking this to happen on the day Scottish schools go off on their holiday."
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