Mae Muller is representing the UK at Eurovision this year (Picture: David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Eurovision icon Mae Muller is standing by her bold comments about British politics.
The 25-year-old singer is flying the flag for the UK this week as the semi-finals kick off this week and the grand final airing this Saturday [May 13].
The I Wrote A Song musician previously declared that she ‘hates the country’ during a row over free school meals.
When asked if she regretted her actions, Mae simply said: ‘No, because that’s how I felt.’
‘I do, though, regret people taking them out of context. Me saying, “I hate this country: is not ideal as I am representing this country. But I love where I’m from,’ she added to the Times.
‘It’s a privilege to be born here and that’s why I felt strongly. We deserve the best and at that time this amazing country wasn’t getting the best. We were being let down.’
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Earlier today Labour Party leader Keir Starmer announced he was rooting for the singer while speaking in Parliament.
The first semi-final was held on Tuesday night, with 10 countries making it through to the next round, while the next performances will be happening tonight.
But with the UK part of the Big Five, which also includes France, Germany, Spain and Italy, Mae won’t have to perform until the Grand Final this weekend.
Mae will be performing on Saturday night (Picture: Getty)
Mr Starmer said he wanted to ‘take this chance to wish all the very best to my brilliant and talented constituent Mae Muller, who is representing the UK at Eurovision in Liverpool this weekend’.
Following a cheer from the chamber, he continued: ‘The whole country is behind you Mae.’
Tuesday’s semi-final kicked off with a bang as Croatia, Moldova, Switzerland, Finland, Czechia, Israel, Portugal, Sweden, Serbia and Norway made it through to Saturday’s final.
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Meanwhile, Malta, Azerbaijan, Latvia and the Netherlands failed to qualify alongside Ireland.
The second heat takes place on Thursday, with 16 more countries taking to the stage to perform, to see which ten will be joining the likes Sweden’s Loreen.
The second Eurovision semi-final is due to air on Thursday at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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MORE : ‘I’ve flown the flag for UK at Eurovision – here’s what Mae Muller needs to know’
‘We deserve the best and at that time this amazing country wasn’t getting the best.’