Moment Little Mix star threatens to tear down St George's flag: 'I'll pull it down!'

Former Little Mix star Jade Thirlwall has defiantly hit out at a St George's flag being hung on a national landmark. The Angel of the North is the latest monument targeted in a nationwide campaign, which has seen Union Jacks and St George's Crosses proudly displayed - but the 32-year-old singer won't stand for it.

Jade went on a scathing rant about the flag at a surprise event promoting her debut solo album called That's Showbiz Baby at the iconic Gateshead landmark. She addressed the large crowd as she passionately spoke about her heritage and what she thinks of the flag. "I just want to say, today I found out that there was a St George's flag on The Angel of the North, and I just want to say that if I had a ladder, I'd pull it down," she admitted. "I'm very proud to come from the North East. I'm a product of immigration and one of the best things about the North East is our diversity.

"It's our cultural hub, our respect for each other, being proud of our neighbours and celebrating that.

"In South Shields, where I grew up, we has a strong Yemeni community. That's my heritage and my ancestry.

"I'm incredibly proud of that, and I'm so grateful for all of my neighbours and friends I grew up with, who never once made me feel othered as a child. So I just want to say, before I go, that we thrive through multiculturalism. We thrive together.

"That's what the Angel of the North represents. Whatever is hanging up there right now, of course we should be proud to be British but being British means so many different things. And I just want to leave you with that."

Last week Prime Minister Keir Starmer backed the flags appearing around the country, as he told the BBC: "I'm very encouraging of flags. I think they're patriotic and I think they're a great symbol of our nation.

"I don't think they should be devalued and belittled. I think sometimes when they're used purely for divisive purposes, actually it devalues the flag. I don't want to see that. I'm proud of our flag."