Shropshire Star poll results: Keep 'God Save the Queen'

As MPs agreed to discuss the possibility of giving England its own anthem to play before sporting events, Shropshire Star readers have shown they are generally happy with the status quo.

However, while God Save the Queen polled the most single score with 37 per cent of the vote, that still leaves almost two thirds of people wanting to find an alternative.

Jerusalem and land of Hope and Glory came a close equal second with 27 per cent, with There'll Always Be and England lagging behind with nine per cent.

The poll on shropshirestar.com follows a general feeling within England that it needs a piece of music that distinguishes it from the British national anthem.

While Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland all have national anthems, England is largely perceived as simply borrowing God Save the Queen for want of anything else.

The idea will be debated at the House of Commons at a second reading on March 4. The bill would bestow a responsibility on the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to hold a consultation across the UK.

It has even been suggested that there should be an 'X Factor style programme' to select a song.

• God Save the Queen - 37%

• Jerusalem - 27%

• Land of Hope and Glory - 27%

• There'll Always be England - 9%

Toby Perkins, Labour MP for Chesterfield, who has led the call for change, said it "seemed incongruous" for English sports fans to sing about Britain

Campaign group England In My Heart wants Jerusalem to be adopted and arranged for a van with loudspeakers to drive around Parliament playing the song ahead of the last debate.

"It's about time England was able to celebrate being English at sporting events," said group member Eddie Bone.

"Let the Scots and the Welsh celebrate theirs and then we come together at the end and sing God Save the Queen."

Star readers continued a lively debate online, with most saying it was simply wrong for the English to adopt the British national anthem.

One reader, calling himself eu realist, said: "How can it make sense to sing a UK anthem in support of an English sports team that might be playing against another UK team which has its own anthem? It's a nonsense. Each of Scotland, Wales, England and N.Ireland can have their own anthems), but we all share a UK anthem when those nations join together to represent the UK such as at the Olympic Games."

Another, called Markie, joked: "Forget the music, just play the recording of Churchill's 'Fight Them On The Beaches' speech. That would make the team passionate and get up the noses of the Germans so much they may miss a few penalties."