England national anthem: As MPs debate God Save the Queen, what should be the nation's sporting anthem?

Elgar and Benson’s Land of Hope and Glory and Jerusalem among the suggestions to replace the current anthem

Chris Robshaw sings the national anthem, God Save the Queen (Getty)

MPs are to debate in Parliament whether the English national anthem God Save the Queen should be changed for sporting events.

Adapted from God Save the King, first performed in London in 1745 to honour George II, the anthem has become synonymous with both England’s sporting triumphs and failures over the past century.

Chesterfield MP Toby Perkins, however, believes the country needs an anthem which represents England singly, rather than the United Kingdom on the whole.

“England is a component part of the UK but it competes as a country in its own right and I think a song that celebrated England rather than Britain would be more appropriate,” he said.

One criticism of the current anthem is its monarchist tone. Various alternatives have been suggested in recent weeks with Jerusalem appearing to gain the most traction.

Unofficially adapted for England during the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2014, it has been used before at sporting events to mixed reviews.

Edward Elgar and A.C Benson’s Land of Hope and Glory, composed in 1902, is another option to be discussed today. Both songs are performed annually at BBC Proms.

Following MPs' initial vote on the matter, the Bill will go onto a second reading.

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