Advertisement

Brexiteer former MP says Union Jack should 'be flown from all public buildings at all times' after UK leaves EU

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 15:  Kate Hoey shows her support for the 'Leave' campaign for the upcoming EU Referendum aboard a boat on the River Thames on June 15, 2016 in London, England.  Nigel Farage, leader of UKIP, is campaigning for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union in a referendum being held on June 23, 2016.  (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)
Former Labour MP and Brexiteer Kate Hoey wants to see Union jacks flown from public buildings after January 31. (Getty Images)

Former Labour MP Kate Hoey has said she wants to see "the Union flag being flown on all public buildings at all times" after Brexit.

Speaking to Brexit Central, she called for the government to stay firm on free trade and "not use fishing as a bargaining tool", individuals to “take more responsibility themselves”, and the media to show belief in the country's future outside the EU.

Asked what she wants to see changed after January 31, when Britain leaves the European Union, the staunch Brexiteer replied: "We need a free trade arrangement and we will only get that by staying firm and not giving in to EU blackmail.

"We need common sense and more emphasis on individuals having to take responsibility themselves, rather than everything being done by the state. I want to see the Union flag being flown on all public buildings at all times.”

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 15:  Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party, and Kate Hoey show their support for the 'Leave' campaign for the upcoming EU Referendum aboard a boat on the River Thames on June 15, 2016 in London, England.  Nigel Farage, leader of UKIP, is campaigning for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union in a referendum being held on June 23, 2016.  (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)
Kate Hoey and Nigel Farage on the infamous Brexit flotilla in 2016 in London. (Getty)

She added: "Finally, I would like our mainstream media to stop running the country down and start to show some belief in our future outside the EU."

Ms Hoey, 73, who was Labour MP for Vauxhall between 1989 and 2019 and a stalwart of the Labour Leave campaign, served as a minister between 1998 and 2001.

READ MORE FROM YAHOO NEWS

Boris Johnson marks signing of Brexit Withdrawal Agreement

UK needs 'a dose of realism' when it comes to the next stage of Brexit

Canadian taxpayers shouldn't foot the bill for Harry and Meghan's security, says MP

She also told the website that Nigel Farage, whom she campaigned with in the referendum, had become her most unlikely ally.

The move provoked criticism from Labour party members who claimed she should have been expelled from the party for sharing a stage with the Brexit Party leader during the campaign.

"There was so much that united us on these platforms over leaving the EU that ‘normal’ party differences didn’t matter,” Ms Hoey said.

GATESHEAD, ENGLAND - JUNE 20:  Labour Leave's Kate Hoey attend the final 'We Want Our Country Back' public meeting of the EU Referendum campaign on June 20, 2016 in Gateshead, England. Campaigning continues across the UK as the country goes to the polls on Thursday, to decide whether Britain should leave or remain in the European Union.  (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
Ms Hoey attends the final 'We Want Our Country Back' public meeting of the EU Referendum campaign on June 20, 2016 in Gateshead. (Getty Images)

"Everyone had a different style of speaking and I think anyone who shared in these experiences has a bond with the others.

"None of us could match Nigel Farage in his oratory and he was always willing to spend a lot of time afterwards talking to people waiting to meet him."

In July, she announced that she would not stand as a Labour candidate in the next election.

Last year, her local party passed a no-confidence vote accusing her of ignoring the views of her constituents.

The London borough of Lambeth, which includes Vauxhall, voted 78.6 per cent Remain in 2016.