{"id":144780,"date":"2025-05-06T14:20:08","date_gmt":"2025-05-06T13:20:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.politics.co.uk\/?p=144780"},"modified":"2025-05-07T07:56:34","modified_gmt":"2025-05-07T06:56:34","slug":"reform-uk-flag-ban-presents-target-for-labour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politics.co.uk\/politicslunch\/2025\/05\/06\/reform-uk-flag-ban-presents-target-for-labour\/","title":{"rendered":"Reform UK \u2018flag ban\u2019 presents target for Labour"},"content":{"rendered":"

Reform UK<\/a>\u2019s fresh batch of local representatives are busily bedding into their new offices across the country.<\/p>\n

And as Nigel Farage<\/a>\u2019s teal troops descend on England\u2019s town halls, Westminster is steadily adjusting to the new political reality precipitated by the local elections<\/a>. The Labour and Conservative parties are still reeling \u2014 reckoning with respective backlashes on policy and political strategy.<\/p>\n

Soaking in the media spotlight, Reform spokespeople<\/a> have spent recent days doubling down on their party\u2019s political positions, declaring unto Britain the change they plan to oversee.<\/p>\n

Thus far, Reform representatives have emphasised the performative elements of their offering. In a social media post on Monday, chair Zia Yusuf \u2014 credited with his party\u2019s auspicious professionalisation drive \u2014 unveiled Reform\u2019s flag-flying policy.<\/p>\n

Reform, the scourge of \u201cwoke<\/a>\u201d from Doncaster to Kent, will ensure that \u201cthe only<\/em> flags permitted to be flown on or in [council] buildings will be the Union Jack and the St George\u2019s flag.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yusuf added: \u201cNo other flags will be permitted to be flown on its flag-poles, balconies, reception desks or council-chamber walls.\u201d<\/p>\n

***This article first appeared in a special edition of Politics.co.uk\u2019s Politics@Lunch newsletter, centring on the local elections fallout. <\/i>Sign-up for free<\/i><\/a>\u00a0and never miss our daily briefing.***<\/i><\/p>\n

Reform controls 10 councils in England, including Kent, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire and Doncaster after its sweeping gains last week. But already its flag policy has come under concerted fire from across the political spectrum.<\/p>\n

Mike Tapp, the outspoken Labour MP for Dover and Deal, responded: \u201cAs VE Day reminds us, Britain has a proud history of working with allies to defeat dictators and tyrants.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt tells you all you need to know about Nigel Farage<\/a>\u2019s Reform that their very first act after winning elections is to ban the Ukrainian flag from our town halls, in this of all weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cFarage and Reform councillors should stop sucking up to Moscow and drop their ban on flying the Ukrainian flag immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tom Tugendhat, the former security minister and Conservative leadership candidate, said: \u201cThe White Horse has been the symbol of Kent for almost 2,000 years.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first king of Kent, Hengest, is said to have used the flag as he and his brother, Horsa, conquered their new kingdom. Denying our flag is denying our history.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mark Francois, the shadow Armed Forces minister, said: \u201cFlags are important symbols and should be respected as such. So, does this new policy mean no flying of Ukrainian flags, in solidarity with them?<\/p>\n

\u201cDoes it mean councils couldn\u2019t fly the Armed Forces day flag, either? And what about county flags, too? This sounds like something which just hasn\u2019t been thought through.\u201d<\/p>\n

The backlash prompted a clarification: \u201cReform UK<\/a> will proudly fly the union jack, St George\u2019s flag and county flags. Unlike the Tories and Labour, we are proud of our country and history\u201d, a party spokesperson commented on Monday afternoon.<\/p>\n

Reform\u2019s policy is pitched against \u201cwoke\u201d flags \u2014 pulling on the same (US-influenced) political strain as its opposition to \u201cDEI\u201d (diversity, equity and inclusion) practices. In a similar vein, Farage took aim at \u201cclimate change training\u201d this morning.<\/p>\n

But Reform\u2019s above clarification still excludes the Ukraine flag, which councils have flown in solidarity with the country after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.<\/p>\n

Reform\u2019s position on the Ukraine war is an evidenced, long-term political vulnerability<\/a>. During the 2024 general election<\/a> campaign, Reform\u2019s momentum was knocked by comments Farage made suggesting the West \u201cprovoked\u201d Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine by expanding the European Union and NATO military alliance eastwards.<\/p>\n

This discourse, at best, distracted from Reform\u2019s central election pitch and, at worst, repelled potential voters<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Labour, via a variety of spokespeople and glossy social media graphics in recent months, has repeatedly criticised Reform for \u201cfawning\u201d over Putin. So expect the party to lampoon Reform\u2019s \u201cUkraine flag ban\u201d in the coming weeks \u2014 as it looks to drive a wedge between the party and its target voters.<\/p>\n

The future of British politics will not turn on the axis of Reform\u2019s flag policy. That much is plain. Policy progress will dictate this government\u2019s fate. But this row exposes chinks in Farage\u2019s armour, even as he enjoys this moment of ascendancy.<\/p>\n

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