Tory leader William Hague singled out Essex people's jingoism - but the hotel he hailed for flying the St George's flag said they only put it up for his visit.

Mr Hague used it as an example of increased nationalism in England when he spoke on a radio show this week.

He said he was worried the upsurge in English nationalism could get out of hand.

But a spokesman for Five Lakes Hotel, Tolleshunt Knights, said the flag was put up especially for him when he came to the hotel to give a speech.

He said the hotel only flies the flag for etiquette reasons.

On the Radio Four programme Brits, discussing British identities, Mr Hague said : "When I go and give a speech in Essex now, I see the flag of St George flying outside the hotel. You would never have seen that a couple of years ago."

Noel Byrne, general manager at the four-star golf and country club said different flags are raised at different times. We will raise any flag that is felt appropriate.

"For example if the Prime Minister of Spain came we would raise a Spanish flag. I do not know why a Union Jack was not raised in this instance.

"It was just felt a St George was more appropriate I suppose. It is part of our customer care and while we are proud someone of Mr Hague's importance remembers us we were just doing what we always do," added Mr Byrne.

A spokeswoman for Mr Hague said: "It was not meant in a derogatory way. He was simply saying that people are more aware of their nationality than they once were."

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