Japan offers to solve 'Union Jack problem'

Japanese readers have made an unlikely intervention into the Britishness debate by offering to help solve the row over the future of the Union Jack.

Earlier this week a Labour MP called for the Union flag to be redesigned to include the Welsh Dragon.

Some designs were comic, others would have a somewhat limited shelf-life. Click to see more

Following an invitation for Telegraph readers to submit their designs, a broad range of interesting suggestion were sent in.

At first most of the readers' flags were sent from within the UK, but then a Japanese website offered to help.

"We heard the news of the Union Jack problem," they wrote.

"We believe that our new ideas will help."

Others were more subtle re-workings of the original Union Jack design

The designs ranged from the sober and sensible to the frankly comic.

The debate began when Wrexham MP Ian Lucas said the current design does not represent Wales's "true place in the Union".

In a Commons debate he said: "I believe that the Union flag should change now to reflect the four nations of the United Kingdom - England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales."

He added: "Let the debate begin, let the rest of the world know that the iconic symbol of the United Kingdom may change and that the reason that it will change is that we have a new constitutional settlement that affords Wales its true place in the Union."

Not everyone was keen on the idea of redesigning the flag.

Conservative MP Stewart Jackson said: "I believe this is an eccentric proposal, although well meaning.

But Margaret Hodge, the culture minister, said: "I do acknowledge the comments on the Union flag and the need for Wales to be represented - I think a valid point has been raised."

She said that, although there were no current plans to redesign the flag, she was aware that some people did not feel that it was representative.

"The Government is keen to make the Union flag a positive symbol of Britishness reflecting the diversity of our country today and encouraging people to take pride in our flag," she added.