White poppies for snowflakes have been blasted for disrespecting fallen ­servicemen and women.

Pacifists selling the alternative to the traditional red emblem say they “challenge attempts to ­glamorise or celebrate war”.

But many who wear the red poppy in the run-up to Remembrance Sunday branded the white ones a disgrace.

Tory MP and former Army officer Johnny Mercer called them “attention-seeking rubbish”.

He tweeted: “Ignore the wearers of them. If you don’t want to wear a poppy don’t bother; they fought and died so you could choose.

“But don’t deliberately try and hijack it’s symbolism for your own ends.”

And another said: “White poppies – pah! If you hate the concept of a red poppy that much, don’t pretend you care by buying a poppy that’s nothing to do with Remembrance Day.”

• 

  Why Stoke City star James McClean refuses to wear poppy on his football shirt

The red poppy was inspired by World War One poem In Flanders Fields by John McCrae.

White ones were introduced in 1933 by the Co-operative Women’s Guild and are now sold by the Peace Pledge Union, which last night insisted they represent remembrance for all victims of war.

Union chief Symon Hill said: “We are used to receiving a lot of abuse every year.

General Election: Who will you vote for?

0+ VOTES SO FAR

“They think we’re trying to insult members of the armed forces.

“A lot of the criticism is based on misunderstanding.

“They’re not just a peace symbol but also for remembrance.

“But last year we had our highest ever sales of white poppies. There’s a growing acceptance.”

Source: Read Full Article