Reform council told to reconsider 'grey areas' in flag policy
Under the rules previously approved by the cabinet, the Union flag and the county council's own flag would fly permanently on two of the three flagpoles outside County Hall, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said. The St George's flag would fly from the third pole, unless it was replaced with the Lord Lieutenant's flag when they were in the building.A fourth flagpole in County Hall's quadrangle could be used to mark events such as Armed Forces Day, Commonwealth Day and Armistice Day, the LDRS added. Decisions on flying all other flags would be delegated to council chief executive John Sinnott after discussion with council leader Dan Harrison, under the policy.
In a meeting on Tuesday, chair of the scrutiny commission, Conservative councillor Deborah Taylor, said the agreed protocol gives "much too grey an area" and should specify which flags will be flown on the fourth pole in the quadrangle."It needs to be really, really clear, so there are no grey areas," Taylor added. Taylor said decisions in relation to requests to fly other flags should only be delegated to the leader and chief executive in "in exceptional circumstances". At the meeting, deputy leader of the Reform group, Joseph Boam, said the Union flag is the "most inclusive flag".Boam added: "We are inclusive, which is why we will fly the Union flag, which represents everyone in this county and country regardless of sexuality, gender or race. I feel it's that simple."The decision has come after 102 social workers at the council signed a letter to the new Reform UK cabinet stating they felt flying community flags was a "vitally-important" symbol from the council that it was "supportive of marginalised groups".The letter continued: "Removing these flags promotes exclusion and marginalisation – it implies people represented by those flags are not welcome.Boam told the scrutiny commission he "had not had the chance" to meet with social workers to discuss the flag policy following the letter.He added: "I will make the effort to reach out after this."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
15 minutes ago
- The Sun
Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana confirm new lefty pro-Gaza party but leave voters baffled over ‘name'
JEREMY Corbyn and Zarah Sultana today confirmed the launch of a new pro-Gaza party to take on Sir Keir Starmer from the left. The ex-Labour lefties declared their "movement" would call for a "mass redistribution of wealth and power". 1 However, the pair left voters baffled over the absence of an official name for their socialist project. While the public was invited to sign up for "Your Party", Sultana was embarrassingly forced to clarify that this was not, in fact, the official name of their new movement. In a joint statement, the pair declared: 'Our movement is made up of people of all faiths and none. "The great dividers want you to think that the problems in our society are caused by migrants or refugees. "They're not. They are caused by an economic system that protects the interests of corporations and billionaires. "It is ordinary people who create the wealth — and it is ordinary people who have the power to put it back where it belongs.' Sultana, the MP for Coventry South, resigned from Labour earlier this month, though she had been suspended from the party whip since July last year. Comrade Corbyn, meanwhile, was suspended by Sir Keir in October 2020 and completely parted ways with Labour in May 2024 to stand as an independent MP. Taking to X, the pair urged supporters to sign up and be 'part of the founding process' of Your Party. However, Ms Sultana later clarified that "Your Party" was merely a placeholder and not the official name of the movement. The fledgling left-wing initiative has already suffered a chaotic debut, with Sultana's initial announcement of her Labour departure catching Corbyn off guard. But the pair are now insisting that founding members will have the opportunity to "decide the party's direction, the model of leadership and the policies that are needed to transform society". Final decisions are expected to be made at an "inaugural conference". Responding to the launch, Labour MP Josh Fenton-Glynn blasted: "Ironic that a party called 'your party' has been set up by two people who furiously believe it to be their party!" It comes as polling conducted by YouGov this week revealed Nigel Farage 's Reform Party is surging ahead, commanding 27 per cent of the vote, followed by Labour on 22 per cent and the Conservatives trailing at 17 per cent.
Metro
32 minutes ago
- Metro
Keir Starmer told to call Bank Holiday if England beat Spain and win Euro 2025
Keir Starmer is facing mounting pressure to reward the nation with a Bank Holiday should the Lionesses win Sunday's Euro 2025 final against Spain. Sarina Wiegman's side defend the title they won three years ago at Wembley after a memorable win over Germany against an all-conquering Spanish side. The Lionesses will be significant underdogs against the reigning world champions but the comeback queens are no strangers to overcoming significant odds. After losing their opening group stage against France, England roared back with wins over Netherlands and Wales, before being taken to the brink by Sweden and Italy in the knockout rounds. Should England gain revenge for the painful World Cup final defeat they suffered against Spain two years ago, Starmer will have a difficult decision to make. The Prime Minister was in opposition back in 2023 when England were last in a showpiece final and made his feelings known on the eve of the Lionesses clash with Spain. 'It's almost 60 years since England won the World Cup,' he wrote on X. 'I'm never complacent about anything… but there should be a celebratory bank holiday if the Lionesses bring it home.' After the men's side reached the Euros final last summer, meanwhile he said: 'We should certainly mark the occasion, I don't want to jinx it.' With Sunday's showdown zooming into view, Starmer is now facing calls tostick to his beliefs and hand millions a day off if the Lionesses win. Liberal Democrat culture, media and sport spokesman Max Wilkinson is leading the pressure, saying: 'The Lionesses can make history on Sunday and retain the Euros title they won so memorably three years ago. 'If they do that, the Prime Minister should give us a Public Holiday to honour their achievement. 'Retaining the title would be one of our country's greatest sporting achievements. 'Fans and patriots across the country deserve the chance to celebrate the talent, success and historic achievement of this amazing team. More Trending 'A Bank Holiday would also give our hospitality industry a much-needed assist and boost. 'The Prime Minister is a football fan – we've all seen the pictures of him enjoying a kick around with his mates. 'If Wiegman's heroes deliver glory, we'll all be hoping he'll put the ball into an empty net by giving the Lionesses and the rest of us a chance to mark the occasion. 'A Bank Holiday would also give our hospitality industry a much-needed assist and boost.' MORE: This is where to shop the Lionesses' England Euro 2025 kit before Sunday's final MORE: Italy players caught laughing at Chloe Kelly moments before England equaliser MORE: Michelle Agyemang reacts to wild journey from England ball girl to Euro 2025 saviour
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Auto-enrolling young people on voting register being explored
Young people could be automatically enrolled on the voting register under plans being explored by the Government, a minister has told Parliament. Labour former minister Lord Beamish argued 'the only way we're going to get young people and other people on the registry is auto-enrolment'. Responding, communities minister Lord Khan of Burnley said the Government will 'take steps to move towards' this, but added that electoral law is 'complicated'. 'We intend to actively explore and test new and more automated methods of registration, including better use of data to identify people who are eligible, and integration with other Government services to make it easier for people to register,' he had earlier told the upper chamber. The minister also revealed the Government is 'looking at' placing 16 and 17-year-olds on the electoral register at the same time they are given their national insurance numbers. This came in response to Liberal Democrat peer Lord Rennard, who said: 'Will the Government now implement the unanimous cross-party recommendation of the House of Lords select committee and automatically include 16 and 17-year-olds on the electoral registers at the same time as they are given their national insurance numbers?' Lord Khan replied: 'This is a major change in the electoral franchise, and we need to get it right. Changes to the electoral law of this magnitude require careful planning and should not be rushed. 'On the question in relation to national insurance, we are looking at different options for ensuring young people can be easily and accurately registered to vote, and ways to enable people to register when they interact with other government services. 'So the (Lord Rennard) keeps pushing. I'm going to give (Lord Rennard) good news … to say we are looking at that as well.' Plaid Cymru peer Baroness Smith of Llanfaes called for a national register to vote day for schools. She said: 'Will this Government consider a national register to vote day for schools, where young people are encouraged to register to vote online in their registration classes?' Lord Khan said this was 'a very strong point, and I will take that away'. He added: 'We'll take all measures to ensure that we can (to) make sure people can participate comfortably and positively.'
