Don’t give the enemy ammunition.
Reform UK will allow only Union Jacks or Crosses of St George to be flown in the 10 councils they now control after their stonking success at the local elections. That means that Ukrainian flags, which have become a fixture above council buildings across the country since the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, will have to come down.
“No other flags will be permitted to be flown on its flagpoles, balconies, reception desks or council chamber walls,” Chairman Zia Yusuf said. Besides Ukraine flags, pride flags won’t be flown over Reform-controlled councils either.
I’m all for ditching non-flags, such as the dreadful progress on. Not flying foreign flags – unless there is a dignitary from that country visiting – but to ban county flags is just silly and self-destructive. What Reform has done here is just give the enemy plenty of ammunition to fire at them, which is bloody stupid. While most reasonable people won’t mind seeing the back of the non-flags, the county flag is another matter.
Reform UK later announced that councils will “only fly the Union Jack, St George’s flag and county flags”.
(From today’s Telegraph)
Still a slip they didn’t need to make.
Indeed
Dear Mr Bishop
Perhaps Reform could add that the Welsh and Scottish flags be included for Reform-led councils in those countries.
Northern Ireland does not appear to have a local flag:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Northern_Ireland
DP
I’m in two minds about this when it comes to other national flags but 9n this context it will be interesting to see if it has effect on support.
There is the view that reform has started animating those who, in the last few years, had given up on voting.
Not sure if those voters would be bothered.
You could also argue that if this is ammunition, is it good ammunition or defective which will explode when fired.
After all, a subtle and nuanced reaction is unlikely
Subtlety and nuance are lost on the leftists. Still, their desire to repeatedly insult the electorate who dared to vote the wrong way will have an electrifying effect. Just not the one they want.
Indeed, and a refusal to fly just about ANY other flag will see the usual mindless torrent of “racist”, “colonialist”, anti global majority…..add any of the million mindless tropes you can doubtless think of.
If that were NOT to happen, it might be the first glimmer that perhaps there were a few adults creeping back into the left.
There’s an air of the Donald about this. Set out a provocative idea and see who and how the Establishment reacts. Moderate the idea later if necessary, but in the meantime don’t pander to the ‘proper way of doing things’ which has resulted in the current (poor) status quo.
If the flags idea is successful – that’s a win. If the Establishment subverts the idea then that is a signal to your supporters – also a win.
I have seen reform referred to as “turquoise trumpism”
Have to confess I rather like that!
Have they banned county flags, or just forgotten about them? It seems they want to remove the foreign and non flags, and have just minced the terminology
I would be very surprised if county flags are banned, or even specified in their announcements
You are probably correct. However, it’s a gaffe that could have been avoided. That said. DS’ comment above is a fair point
On the other hand, making a mistake and correcting it makes them seem more like people, scrappy underdogs.
It has an appeal over the sanitised focus group centred announcements of the bigger parties.
It also shows that they listen to criticism and respond.
It helps that Reform are still relatively new.
And I don’t think county flags is the hill most people will die on.
Sure, i love the Yorkshire flag, being a proud Yorkshireman. But I live in Wales and couldn’t tell you what the county flag even is of where I live, despite having been here for a decade and a half…
There’s nothing preventing individuals or private enterprises from flying the Ukrainian flag if they want to, that would be a public indication of genuine support. But when an authority displays such emblems, it becomes an exercise in undue influence.
Councils were not elected to promote such ideas, their job is to empty the bins and fill the potholes. I’m with Reform UK on this one – keep it simple and clear.