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Dominic Raab has challenged the tendency of conservative politicians to pose in front of union flags when they appear on television via video call, opting instead for an old-fashioned world map, a framed print and… a broom.
It was the foreign secretary’s broom that generated a particular comment Wednesday morning, as Twitter users speculated on why it was leaning against the door of the room from which it was broadcasting.
It appeared, one user suggested, that Raab had wedged the broom against the door “to keep the family out.” Another replied: “What is the bet that the family put a broom on the other side first?”
Another remarked unkindly: “TBF, that’s the smartest thing you’ve done in years.”
The perhaps not so carefully curated background to Raab’s television appearance came after several of his Conservative colleagues were seen to have the national flag hanging in seemingly informal circumstances at home or in the office.
Boris Johnson, Priti Patel, Grant Shapps, Gavin Williamson, Robert Jenrick, Matt Hancock and Nadhim Zahawi are among the high-ranking Tories who have prominently displayed flags during broadcasts recently. Another conservative politician hung pennants over his head before appearing on a video call.
There is no suggestion that Raab intended to offend his colleagues by not choosing to fly the flag at his home. A sensible explanation for his decision, which appeared on social media, was that the broom was there to keep the door gently closed.
“I guess the latch is broken and the door opens differently,” wrote a Twitter user named Richard. “This is your stopgap solution. I have a door like this that I recently fixed.
The Guardian asked the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office if the broom was intended for any symbolism, but had received no response at the time of publication.
