Liverpool fans, a significant number at least, booed the national anthem at the Carabao Cup final at Wembley yesterday. It wasn’t the first time this has happened – it’s been going on since the 1980s – but it was the first time since the monarch was diagnosed with cancer. This added a certain poignancy to the ‘save’ bit of the anthem, and might have been expected to persuade the Liverpool boo-boys to take the afternoon off. But no.

The usual explanation for this ongoing practice is lingering resentment at how Liverpool was affected by the Thatcher government’s monetarist policies of the 1980s (parts of the city reported 30 to 50 per cent unemployment) and how it has been treated after. One of the most damaging aspect of this story were the revelations (from papers released in 2011) that at one point senior ministers urged Mrs Thatcher to more or less give up on the city and allow its ‘managed decline’.

The other deep wound is the Hillsborough tragedy of 1989 where 97 Liverpool fans were crushed to death during the FA cup semi final against Nottingham Forest. The especially egregious point here was that there were clear attempts to shift the blame onto the Liverpool fans in the aftermath of the tragedy. The Conservatives were involved again, with former MP Irvine Patnick revealed as a source for the Sun’s notorious ‘The Truth’ story vilifying Liverpool fans. Patnick, who died in 2012, claimed he was lied to by South Yorkshire police.

It might be time to move on

All this seems to have created a feeling in Liverpool that their city is not really English at all. No allegiance is owed to a British state which they feel has treated them with such contempt. Banners to this effect have been seen at Anfield including a huge one proclaiming ‘We are not English, we are Scouse’. Hence the booing.

But the danger with endlessly protracted grievance is that perspective is lost.

QOSHE - Liverpool fans should stop booing the national anthem - Philip Patrick
menu_open
Columnists Actual . Favourites . Archive
We use cookies to provide some features and experiences in QOSHE

More information  .  Close
Aa Aa Aa
- A +

Liverpool fans should stop booing the national anthem

5 1
26.02.2024

Liverpool fans, a significant number at least, booed the national anthem at the Carabao Cup final at Wembley yesterday. It wasn’t the first time this has happened – it’s been going on since the 1980s – but it was the first time since the monarch was diagnosed with cancer. This added a certain poignancy to the ‘save’ bit of the anthem, and might have been expected to persuade the Liverpool boo-boys to take the afternoon off. But no.

The usual explanation for this........

© The Spectator


Get it on Google Play