Robert Jenrick responds to Charlie Stayt over Union Jack flag mocking, says it’s a sign of liberty and freedom

Tory minister Robert Jenrick has fired back at BBC Breakfast’s Charlie Stayt after the presenter made the unprecedented move to mock the MP’s Union Jack flag during an interview.

The incident occurred on Thursday morning when the minister was on the show to discuss the government’s Covid vaccine rollout when towards the end of the interview Stayt sarcastically mocked the rather large flag that Jenrick has in his office.

Stayt said: “I don’t think your flag is not up to standard size government interview measurements. I think it’s just a little bit small... but that’s your department really.”

Viewers and his co-host Naga Munchetty thought the comment was hilarious but not everyone was laughing especially Jenrick, who has since fired back at the mockery calling the flag a “symbol of liberty and freedom that binds the whole country together.”

The fallout from Stayt’s comments has seen a whole debate kick off on social media with supporters of the government and up in arms over the controversy.

According to the Telegraph, BBC director-general Tim Davie is said to be “furious” about the exchange, while culture minister Oliver Dowden said he was “concerned that what started as light-hearted banter became sneering.”

Meanwhile, Munchetty has apologised after she liked several tweets about the joke, adding that she didn’t intend to offend anyone.

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