Latest news with #Britishvalues
BBC News
12-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Reform council brings in 'British values' flag rules in Leicestershire
Leicestershire County Council's new Reform leadership has scrapped the authority's flag flying policy in its first cabinet move, approved at a meeting on Thursday, means a previously agreed schedule of flags to be displayed outside County Hall in Glenfield has been list included flags to mark events celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride Month, Gypsy Roma and Traveller History Month and Windrush Reform council leader Dan Harrison said the changes to flag-flying protocols were "to celebrate British values that unite us all". Some staff groups at the council, where Reform formed a minority administration following May's local elections, raised concerns about the described the eight-minute cabinet meeting, which had only the flag-flying policy on the agenda, as "historic".He said: "People will rightly ask why are we changing this protocol?"It's important to understand the importance of recognition of national identity, our heritage and culture and celebrate British values [which] is what unites us all."This new protocol allows us to do all this." Under new rules, Harrison said the Union flag and the county council's own flag would fly permanently on two of the three flagpoles outside County St George's flag would fly from the third pole, he said, unless it was replaced with the county Lord Lieutenant's flag when they were in the said a fourth flagpole in County Hall's quadrangle could be used to mark events such as Armed Forces Day, Commonwealth Day and Armistice on flying all other flags are be delegated to council chief executive John Sinnott after discussion with the leader. In a joint letter, representatives of LGBTQ+, disabled and BAME staff said they had not been properly consulted on the change."We feel that the lack of time between our understanding of this event, and the meeting taking place, has hampered our ability to communicate and promote the voices of those in our staff networks and beyond," they said they represented more than 400 council staff and asked the administration to consider the impact of changes on employee letter added: "We would recommend the cabinet members reflect on the purpose of flying flags as a local authority. "It is an example of the Public Sector Equality Duty, our legal requirement to foster good relations between people who share protected characteristics and those who don't."Opposition Conservative group leader Deborah Taylor called the meeting "very strange" and said "staffing groups support a number of staff here and should be listened to". She added: "Staff that are committed to the Leicestershire residents and Leicestershire County Council have not had their voice heard and I think that's terrible."Harrison said he would meet staff group representatives to discuss the new protocol.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Own goal averted by last-ditch save
As a white man I almost got myself in trouble at work one day (White men are apparently terrified of doing the wrong thing at work. I have some advice, 26 May). 'I must admit I have zero interest in women's football,' I said after a young woman had raised the subject. Everyone looked at me for a second or two before I added: 'But in my defence, I feel the same way about the men's.' Everyone laughed and I didn't get fired. Chris Telford Lancaster • Schools have a duty to 'actively promote' the British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and respect and tolerance of those of different faiths. It seems the UK government feels no compulsion to do so (Dismay as UK prepares to sign 'values-free' £1.6bn trade deal with Gulf states. 29 May) Mona Sood Southend-on-Sea Advertisement • Simon Elmes criticises the use of 'unwanted Americanisms' such as 'gotten' and 'faucet' (Letters, 29 May). In fact both of these words are from early modern English, and are used in Shakespeare's plays. A respectable English ancestry, I'd say. Neil Hanson Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire • Given that Labour's fall in the opinion polls is the largest for any newly elected UK government in 40 years (Report, 25 May), Keir Starmer is experiencing the swift decline of numbers as well as the decline of swift numbers (Letters, 29 May). Elli Woollard London • My wife and I get to see our grownup children occasionally when they come home to see the dog (Letters, 29 May). Gary McGregor Garvald, East Lothian • Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
The Guardian
01-06-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Own goal averted by last-ditch save
As a white man I almost got myself in trouble at work one day (White men are apparently terrified of doing the wrong thing at work. I have some advice, 26 May). 'I must admit I have zero interest in women's football,' I said after a young woman had raised the subject. Everyone looked at me for a second or two before I added: 'But in my defence, I feel the same way about the men's.' Everyone laughed and I didn't get TelfordLancaster Schools have a duty to 'actively promote' the British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and respect and tolerance of those of different faiths. It seems the UK government feels no compulsion to do so (Dismay as UK prepares to sign 'values-free' £1.6bn trade deal with Gulf states. 29 May)Mona SoodSouthend-on-Sea Simon Elmes criticises the use of 'unwanted Americanisms' such as 'gotten' and 'faucet' (Letters, 29 May). In fact both of these words are from early modern English, and are used in Shakespeare's plays. A respectable English ancestry, I'd HansonSlaithwaite, West Yorkshire Given that Labour's fall in the opinion polls is the largest for any newly elected UK government in 40 years (Report, 25 May), Keir Starmer is experiencing the swift decline of numbers as well as the decline of swift numbers (Letters, 29 May).Elli WoollardLondon My wife and I get to see our grownup children occasionally when they come home to see the dog (Letters, 29 May).Gary McGregorGarvald, East Lothian Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
