England’s footballers should have their own anthem rather than singing God Save The Queen before matches, a Leeds MP has said.
Greg Mulholland called for the tradition to be scrapped because the anthem belonged to the whole UK rather than just England.
The Leeds North West MP said: “It is high time that England had an anthem for when it is appearing separately, just as the Welsh and Scottish do, and we must now begin campaigning to secure this for England.
“God Save the Queen is of course totally appropriate when our sportsmen and women appear, as at the Olympics, as Great Britain or the UK, but when England play, they are representing only England, not the whole UK.
“I hope that football fans will get behind this cause so that an English anthem is in place for when, or if England take part in the 2014 World Cup.”
Before rugby and football matches, Wales sing Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau (Land Of My Fathers) and the Scots’ song is Flower of Scotland.
Previous suggestions of an English-only national anthem have included Jerusalem and Land Of Hope And Glory.
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