They included the former Conservative Minister and EU Comissioner, Leon Brittan, my veteran colleague, Gwyneth Dunwoody, one time MP for Exeter and the former editor of the Daily Telegraph, Max Hastings.
They all said they felt uncomfortable with the current widespread display on cars and houses of the cross of St George.
But why? The Scots, the Welsh and the Irish have no qualms about their national flags. Why should the English?
One of the very welcome developments of recent years has been the reclaiming of our flag by ordinary decent people from the right wing cranks and little Englanders who used to monopolise it.
Most people these days have no problem with our multiple identities. Exonian, Devonian, English, British, European.
Mr Hastings said that displaying the flag was a sign of insecurity. What tosh! It may be that traditional English understatement and reserve mean flag waving is not everyone�s cup of tea.
But why should the English be deprived the simple pleasure of expressing national pride? To imply that it is somehow distasteful to express support for our team in this way is to play into the very hands of those extremists who besmirched our flag in the past.
What fascinated me was that the only panellist who did not have a problem with the English flag was the young black author, Tony Sewell.
He pointed out that it was displayed enthusiastically by people of all backgrounds and races throughout his very diverse home area of Hackney in London.
There was a clear generational divide here between two Tory grandees and an old Labour politician on the one side and a young black British writer on the other. Their attitudes to the national flag were fascinating and the opposite of what you might have expected.
No-one should feel embarrassed about flying the flag. Especially tomorrow!
