Britain should replace “God Save The King” as the National Anthem because it excludes people who are republicans and those who do not believe in God, a former Government minister has said.

Norman Baker, a former minister in the Coalition Government, was speaking to Chopper’s Political Podcast about his new book, which scrutinises how the Royal Family is funded and suggests reforms.

Mr Baker, a Liberal Democrat MP from 1997 to 2015, said that it was time the UK reconsidered its commitment to singing “God Save the King” on national occasions.

The anthem was first publicly performed in London in 1745, though the words and tune may date back to the 17th century.

It formally became the national anthem at the start of the 19th century.

Mr Baker, a Government minister from 2010 to 2014, told the podcast: “The National Anthem is ‘God Save the King’. And I have to say that every other country I can think of, the national anthem reflects the country, not the person who’s the Head of State.

“And you want a national anthem to be adopted by everyone in the country.

“This national anthem excludes people who are republicans and excludes people who don’t believe in God. And that’s wrong.

“We should have a national anthem everybody is very proud of.”

There have been sporadic calls to replace the anthem with “God Save The Children” in the past, although critics have expressed concern about its monarchism and it never mentioning England, Scotland, Wales or Ireland.

Previous suggestions have included ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ or ‘Jerusalem’.

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