The following excerpt is from the government website, describing when he hosted celebrities at the annual St George's Day reception. It's quite revealing and, in many ways, comforting, especially with the heartfelt details he shares. He highlights our cultural heritage, landscapes, successes, and inventions—ranging from his car screeching to a halt to shake Tony Adams' hand, to his pride in calling himself an Englishman, and his very personal experiences growing up.

This stands in stark contrast to how some view him—as a traitor to the nation, a globalist, and a career politician. As a lawyer, he’s often seen as someone who only cares about the rule of law, regardless of our rights and how it affects our culture and way of life.

The transcript:

"Maro, it’s fantastic to see you here and hear you talk about the pride of pulling on an England jersey. I think it’s something we’ve all dreamt of, although I only ever got to wear a replica. That sense of pride you described, from the simple act of putting on a shirt, a sports shirt—it’s really important. That pride and joy are hugely significant.

And as for your reminder of St George, I have a few ideas on what we could feed the dragon! But look, it’s amazing to see so many of you here, including Tony Adams in his red suit. He probably won’t remember this, but years ago, Vic and I were driving through the Cotswolds, and we saw him walking. I screeched to a halt and insisted on shaking his hand—it’s great to see you again.

This is a fantastic group of people. Thank you so much for coming to Downing Street. This is where I work and live, just upstairs, but it’s also your building. I’m keen to show that this isn’t just a remote government office but a place where we serve our communities and our country. This is your space as much as mine; it’s your right to be here, and my privilege to invite you as guests. You’re welcome to test us, push us, and share your ideas. I want you to leave your fingerprints on what we’re doing as a government.

And of course—today, as a proud Englishman—this is a particularly special occasion: St. George’s Day, the eve of a day to celebrate all the wonder and joy of our country. You can see that reflected in this reception, which I think is one of the biggest we’ve had here in Downing Street, extending all the way through the rooms to the back, with some fantastic people.

We’ve got Pimms, English sparkling wine, and some brilliant showcases—Melton Mowbray pork pies, Lancashire Eccles cakes, Bakewell tarts, and gin from Exmoor distillery. We were going to have Morris dancers, but we’re saving them for the next Cabinet away day!

One of the great things about this country is the number of wonderful traditions we have, and the personal reasons each of us feels proud to be English. For me, it always starts with football. I was at Wembley in 1996, in 2021, and also last year when we went to Germany, so close again. But even in defeat, the nation remained proud.

Whether it's football, festivals, cricket, Shakespeare—whose birthday is tomorrow—or our music from Elgar to the Rolling Stones, our art from Tracey Emin to Turner, or our universities, inventions, and innovations—the world’s first vaccine, the World Wide Web, the computer—all these things reflect what’s great about England.

Everyone in this room has their favorite spots, whether it’s the rocky coves of Cornwall or the incomparable beauty of the Lake District. My late mum struggled to walk, so she decided to have all her holidays in the Lake District, where the only thing to do was walk. But that summed her up. We still go there with our children.

And of course, there’s the Chalk Hills of the North Downs, where I grew up—this is a beautiful country, rich in pride, potential, and creativity. It’s also a place where people like me, who grew up working class, and someone like Rishi Sunak, an English Hindu, can both become Prime Minister. We should always be proud of that.

But while today is a day for celebration, we can’t be under any illusions. There’s an ongoing fight for our flag and what it represents. I remember standing at the old Wembley in 1996. There was hardly anyone sitting down that day—it felt like the tournament embodied the best of our country.

Yet now, there are people trying to sow division. They take our flag—the red and white—and use it to throw bricks at businesses. The day after the terrible Southport incident last year, I went to shake the hands of the first responders—police and ambulance workers. They said they were just doing their job, but of course, they weren’t. What they did was incredible, and they were back at work the next day.

Yet by the time I returned to London, we had people throwing bricks at the same police officers I’d just shaken hands with. That’s why the fight for our flag is so important. We must reclaim it from those who seek to divide us.

After the riots, people came together across Britain, with shovels, brooms, and brushes, to clean up their communities. They rebuilt walls and repaired damage. In that spirit, we must reclaim our flag. It’s ours—it doesn’t belong to any one person or political party. It belongs to all of us, to England, in all its wonder and diversity.

We should never concede it because it represents our values and patriotism. For me, patriotism means serving the country we love. That’s what drove me when I was Chief Prosecutor, serving people who had faced terrible crimes and injustice. People like John and Penny Clough, who lost their daughter in an awful crime and came to me years ago in search of justice. They’ve become friends of mine.

And it drives me now, in my role as Prime Minister. I want to make working people's lives better. It’s at the heart of our government’s agenda: putting money in people’s pockets, getting public services back on their feet, making our streets safer, building homes, breaking down barriers to opportunity, and honoring Britain’s veterans by ensuring there are 'homes for heroes.'

We’re also investing in our national security, with the biggest defense investment since the Cold War. It won’t be easy, especially in these uncertain times, but moments like this remind us of the values that have endured through generations: creativity, resilience, good will, and humor.

So, let’s be proud of our national identity. Let’s honor those who keep our country going—from the generations who laid down their lives for our freedom, to those serving us today: our armed forces, NHS staff, teachers, and small businesses who serve their communities.

Let’s remember our shared history, our inheritance, and the values that have endured. And most of all, let’s celebrate England and St. George!"