Black Country flag: MP Eleanor Smith's post about row deleted off Facebook
A Facebook post in which MP Eleanor Smith explains her discomfort being associated with the Black Country flag has been deleted.
In a post on her constituency account the MP for Wolverhampton South West said she chose not to attend a photoshoot with Labour colleagues holding the flag because the use of chains on it make her feel ‘uneasy’.
She also said that her victory in the General Election proved that the people of Wolverhampton South West wanted to ‘move on’ from England’s heritage involving the slave trade.
The post went up earlier this week but was removed a few hours later.
In a statement issued on Sunday night Ms Smith said she did not attend the photograph outside the Palace of Westminster due to ‘parliamentary commitments’.
She had been reported in the Express & Star as saying she did not feel comfortable with the flag due to its ‘racist connotations’, but accused the paper of ‘misrepresenting’ her views.
It came as responses to an E&S poll asking whether the flag was racist approached the 40,000 mark –with 95% of people opposing Ms Smith’s view. Last night she was due to hold an election victory rally in the city with guest speaker Emily Thornberry, who once lost her shadow cabinet role for appearing to mock a family’s terraced home draped in England flags.
In the revealing post Ms Smith wrote: “I have some issues with the image of the chain because of its association with the Slave Trade. Historically, slaves were chained after capture in Africa, and not released from these instruments of torture until their arrival and subsequent sale in the Americas or Caribbean.
“As a black woman therefore chains make me extremely uneasy, and because I am uncomfortable with being associated with them I chose not to be photographed in the New Palace Yard alongside fellow MPs from the Black Country.
“I do not criticise them from appearing with the flag, but having spent my life supporting causes examining the legacy of the Slave Trade I felt I couldn’t stand shoulder to shoulder with them on this occasion.”
The photograph was set up by Dudley North MP Ian Austin and also featured Labour deputy leader Tom Watson, West Bromwich West MP Adrian Bailey and Wolverhampton South East MP Pat McFadden. Ms Smith went on: “I would ask people to consider my views in the light of my family experience – my grandmother’s grandmother actually was a slave, and before she died my mother talked to me of those memories which had come down to her living descendants in Barbados.
“My mother brought these memories with her when she came to England in the 1950s and they formed part of my own childhood.
“Some of these issues are still alive today, and if as a society we are to deal with them first we must agree what the real history of England is. I am proud of how the people of WSW have shown at the ballot box that they too wish to move on from this heritage.”
Black Country MPs from across the political divide have expressed their support for the flag, which has also been backed by Wolverhampton councillors.
Theresa May has also waded into the debate, praising the flag’s designer Gracie Sheppard during PMQs. Wolverhampton’s Momentum group has called for the flag to be withdrawn and replaced with ‘a more appropriate symbol for our times’, while the constituency Labour group has also backed Ms Smith. Last night Ms Smith was due to hold an election victory rally at the Heritage Centre on Clifford Street, featuring a speech from shadow foreign secretary Ms Thornberry.
She quit then Labour leader Ed Miliband’s front bench in 2014 after being accused of snobbery over a tweet showing England flags displayed outside a house.
City councillors proud to fly flag
The Black Country flag has been backed by Wolverhampton councillors after being proudly waved in the council chamber.
Loud cheers greeted Tory councillor Paul Singh as he held the flag aloft during Wednesday night’s full council meeting.
The flag was supported by politicians on all sides of the chamber, with the authority’s leader, councillor Roger Lawrence, declaring: “We will fly the flag for the Black Country.”
Other Labour councillors wore lapel badges featuring the black, white and red flag, which has been criticised by the party’s Wolverhampton South West MP Eleanor Smith for using chains, which she says connote the slave trade.
Addressing fellow councillors, Mr Singh, who represents Penn, said he was ‘proud of the Black Country flag’.
He then urged his colleagues to support the flag before unfolding a 5ft by 3ft version of it – a move that was met with loud cheers in the packed chamber.
He added: “The flag we are all supporting is this flag. We’re all proud to be from the Black Country and we’re all behind the flag – so there’s the flag. We’re Black Country and proud of it.”
Mr Singh later told the Express & Star: “I was pleased to see the widespread support for the flag in the chamber. There were Labour councillors with it on badges on their lapels. I want to salute them all as it shows we can stand together in pride for our region.”
Former city Mayor, councillor Milkinder Jaspal, has also backed the flag. The Heath Town Labour councillor said: “I haven’t got any concerns about the flag at all, although it is obviously doesn’t please everyone. As councillors, we have got to promote the Black Country and show we are proud of our background.
“We need to be looking to the future and focusing on key issues like education and employment.”
Labour councillor Stephen Simkins, who represents Bilston East, said he had no issues with the flag –although he prefered to rally around the Bilston crest.
“I’m happy to let people put the flag up and if it helps to bring investment to Wolverhampton then of course I support it,” he said. In her maiden speech in the Commons earlier this week, Ms Smith said: “This flag has a link of chains as its primary image.
“I have had two concerns about the connotations of this image; its historical association with the slave trade, and whether it should be the only brand image for the Black Country.”
Independent Spring Vale councillor Malcolm Gwinnett,said: “I think the flag is absolutely wonderful and the best thing we can do is to fly the flag. For the MP to make the comments she has made is absolutely stupid. I think we should all support it.”
