Fly the Union Jack and St George's flag from the civic centre every day, says Wolverhampton Tory leader
A senior councillor has called for the Union Jack and Cross of St George to be flown from Wolverhampton Civic Centre every day of the year.
Councillor Simon Bennett, leader of Wolverhampton Council's opposition Conservative group, also called for flags to be displayed in the council chamber and committee room three, the council's secondary debating chamber.
But he said he would also like them to become a permanent fixture outside the building, as opposed to its current situation which sees flags rotated on a regular basis.
He made the call after Reform UK's Councillor Anita Stanley asked council leaders to clarify their position on flag flying during a meeting of the council.
Councillor Stanley had sought assurances from council leader, Councillor Stephen Simkins, that council workers would not remove flags that had been erected by members of the public.
Councillor Simkins said the council had no intention of 'chasing flags' , but was obliged to remove them when there was an issue of public safety.
"This council will, of course, need to move flags if there are issues of highway safety, or if offensive wording has been added to them," he said.
"We do not have the time or money to go around chasing flags, however, if there is a safety issue we have a duty to keep the road users and residents safe."
Speaking after the meeting, Councillor Bennett praised the council's 'sensible' approach to the flags, but said he would like to see them flown permanently outside the main council building.
“I’m glad that the council has taken a sensible approach to flags in that it has seen the strength of feeling and patriotism from residents to put up the flag of St George in their streets, and that the council won’t be removing flags unless they cause a direct risk to health and safety," he said.
“We have seen so many amazing examples in our city over the past month of patriotism by Wolverhampton’s residents, and seeing as the agenda already had constitutional reform on it, I saw a perfect angle to cement the pride our city has shown into a permanent fixture.
“We will always fight for our residents’ right to keep the flags flying high, and see no reason why both debating rooms and the square outside the civic centre shouldn’t reflect this.”
Councillor Simkins accused Councillor Stanley of using the flag to create division.
This council will, of course, need to move flags if there are issues of highway safety, or if offensive wording has been added to them," he said.
"We do not have the time or money to go around chasing flags, however, if there is a safety issue we have a duty to keep the road users and residents safe."
Councillor Stanley retorted by asking if Councillor Simkins was implying that people in Wolverhampton were less capable of flying the flag safely than in other neighbouring authorities.
But Councilor Simkins accused Councillor Stanley of trying to use the flag to create division.
"it is unfortunate that, as a Reform councillor, Councillor Stanley is trying to reduce this to a simple 'yes' or 'no' answer, this is exactly the kind of politics that divides rather than unites," he said.
"A Labour council like this doesn't play these kind of silly games, we believe in representing our nation with pride, respecting every community and bringing them together. Our job is to bring people together, not start cultural wars, drawing lines and picking fights.
"If people want to fly their flag, then fly it for the right reasons, not for political gain. I ain't got an identity crisis."
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