Express & Star

'The wrong approach': Rees-Mogg slams fire chiefs over Black Country flag ban

Jacob Rees-Mogg has urged fire chiefs to reconsider a controversial decision to ban the Black Country flag, accusing them of taking the wrong "historical approach" to the issue.

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Jacob Rees-Mogg visited the Phoenix 10 site in Walsall, which is set to be transformed into an industrial estate

The Leader of the House of Commons was in Walsall today to cast his eyes over plans for the Phoenix 10 development, which is taking shape at the former copper works site off Reservoir Place.

And he was quick to offer his support for the Black Country flag, which was banned from being displayed at fire stations after senior officials at West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) claimed the chains on it may have links to slavery.

Mr Rees-Mogg told the Express & Star: "It's probably not for me to tread on the toes of fire chiefs outside of my own area, but I understand the flag was designed by a 12-year-old schoolgirl not very long ago, and that the chains in the flag represent the Black Country's industrial heritage.

The Black Country Flag was banned from fire stations in the region

"I think to read into that some entirely different history is not an historical approach to take to a flag, and as something of an amateur historian it is certainly not the approach I would encourage them to take."

The decision to ban the flag, which was made in advance of Black Country Day, sparked a furious response with local MPs calling for WMFS to apologise and rank and file officers accusing bosses of "jumping on some politically correct bandwagon".

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Mr Rees-Mogg was making a rare visit to the West Midlands as part of a regional tour which also saw him take in a toy factory in Ironbridge.

He said he was impressed with plans for the Phoenix 10 site, describing the development as "completely fundamental" for the region's prosperity as it comes out of the coronavirus pandemic.

The 44-acre plot near Junction 9 and Junction 10 of the M6 is set to be transformed into an industrial estate, with land remediation works due to start next year and tenants expected on site by 2024.

Mr Rees-Mogg said: "If you look at the broad expanse of economic history, the thing that really gets things moving is building. It's infrastructure and development. Once you get that started you begin to get the whole economic recovery.

"The 'build it and they will come approach', historically, has turned into a winner, so it is vital to develop sites like this which have been derelict for years.

"It leads to jobs and prosperity, and then you get more job creation because you have got to provide all the services that those people need.

"This is a very exciting opportunity."