How brainless to sing the red flag.....

(the rogue apostrophe isn't mine )

Loyalty to whom Bradfordlass ?

Or 'revolutionary'?

Thanks for posting the words, Doodledog

Or Revolutionary?'

Indeed. It's not about revolution, it's about the struggle of those who have fought against oppression, and the need not to forget them.

The Red Flag is a socialist song, emphasising the sacrifices and solidarity of the international labour movement. It is the anthem of the British Labour Party,[1][2] Irish nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party, and Irish Labour Party.[citation needed] The song is traditionally sung at the close of each party's national conference.[3]
Wikipedia

The Red Flag is not a communist song, it has been the anthem of the Labour Party since the party was founded, it has been sung several times in the House of Commons, as recently as 2006. There is nothing disgraceful or even unusual in all of this (although I agree that we are living through unusual times). It’s just another example of people getting their knickers twisted over nothing very much at all, because it’s about Jeremy Corbyn.

Jeremy Corbyn is the very last man who would cause me to get my knickers in a twist ?

I remember singing that at school but it was called " Oh Christmas Tree ".

Yes, the tune is 'Oh Tannenbaum'.

Oh, Christmas tree, Oh, Christmas tree,
How lovely are your branches
[Smile]

As a socialist I think that it was an appropriate time and place to sing the red flag. However I equally think that any politician worth their salt should have had more nowse than sing it when they are facing a GE and the issue of Marxism.......but hey, who thinks Corbyn has more political judgement than our clown of a PM? ???

I really despair of democracy when someone thinks singing the Red Flag in Parliament is somehow unacceptable. If we are rejecting socialism, if we do not recognise the sacrifices made and honour the efforts to build a fairer society then we live in dangerous times. I suspect that the majority have in fact no idea of the words of the song and base their dislike on ideas spread by MSM. It's the anthem of the Labour movement and the Labour movement was responsible for the society we grew up in.
I actually prefer Bread and Roses, but the Red Flag has more historical credentials.

Our National Anthem could do with being changed. It's probably the most doleful anthem/tune on the planet, more like a dirge.

Yes absthame wrong place, wrong time.

The Beeb just showed a clip on the news of the singing. Looks like they were just trying to cheer themselves up. Seems alright to me. What's wrong with the Red Flag anyway? If you're labour, you would sing it in a crisis wouldn't you?

Yes Doodlebug, I always think of it as being "Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree, how lovely are your branches". Very sweet.

Agree with you nightowl
This is Labour's anthem a powerful song and in the circumstances the right thing to sing. Along with others who sang their songs too. Labour for the many.

But we have to remember the slant the gutter press [and the BBC, sadly] put on things. Just spoke to DD who hadn't realised everyone was singing that night. What is wrong is how the Labour Party is portrayed by them and they must play them at their own game.

Parliament is half full of marxist so it does not surprise me but still saddens. Did McDonnell and Corbyn start the singing? Disgraceful behaviour. They must sometimes forget their behaviour is being televised to the public.

half full of marxist

Got a link to that statistic new?

Do Boris etc forget they're being televised too, or do they just not care?

I thought it was only Americans who dont understand the diference between Marxism and socialism...sadly it seems not

The issue is not whether people know the difference; it is how this particular song is viewed by the public - what its associations are.

Only by certain sections of the public, surely. I would imagine that anyone who knows anything about the Labour party would know it's not a marxist or communist song - and those who don't know can always look up Wikipedia.

I am another one who did not know that any other parties were singing songs. I know what Luckygirl means about how it is viewed by the public. Labour members should be continuously on their guard to avoid any behaviour that will be given a negative slant by the right wing press. However, it was about 1 o clock in the morning.

SirChenjin do that many people know about the Labour Party though? Many people seem willing enough to believe what the Daily mail etc. print about the party.

On a very personal level, I feel it is slightly inapropriate to sing a Christian Hymn in a secular space, but I realise that is just my own thought, I am not about to accuse the hymn singers of being wrong.

I agree Ilove - the DM etc readers seem quite happy to believe what they read in that rag without questioning it, and then they parrot it as truth.

It was at one in the morning; but I understand that the BBC in their usual impartial way showed that and only that in the news later that day...in the same way that they edited out Johnsons shenanigans in Ireland the other day, too.

The question is whether the LP (or any mainstream party) should adapt their traditions because people are so easily led by the media.

Yes, the BBC didn't show the other singing, and I do understand the point that maybe the LP should have thought of that; but if they go down that road, where does it end?

Nobody has come back with a reason why the song is seen as revolutionary or communist after I posted the lyrics. It isn't.

So, why shouldn't it be sung? Isn't it up to the public to educate themselves before taking offence, rather than up to others to constantly self-censor in case of erroneous accusations?