A footballer who plays for the Republic Of Ireland team has been criticised because he won't wear a poppy on his club shirt. The bloke is from Derry, a city with bitter memories of the depredations of British soldiers. Newsreaders and presenters have been vilified, abused even, for refusing to wear a poppy on the telly. We start seeing poppies weeks before Remembrance Day and we see great big ones tastelessly tied to the grilles of cars all the year round. Now Theresa May is having a bash at FIFA for being consistent in enforcing their no-symbols rule. The woman who hasn't a clue what she's going to do about brexit is telling someone else to get their house in order. Jeremy Corbyn is watched like a hawk by the sewer press to see what colour poppy, if any, he'll wear. Poppy-wearing has become politicised, and, as ever, it's the Tory right-wing little-Englander mindset that makes the fiercest noises.

It's been called poppy fascism and it's a good term for it. You WILL wear a poppy, or else. I think it's very sad, and I don't blame the British Legion for it at all. Poppies are being hijacked. I won't wear a poppy because I hate the militarisation of remembrance ceremonies and the overbearing presence of royalty at them. They of all people have plenty to be thankful for to those who sacrificed their lives, that's for sure, but it sometimes looks like a contest to see which prince or duke can drip with the most medals.

I'll put a quid in the poppy-seller's tin and I won't harangue him, but my poppy will go straight in the bin.