The right-wing party wants to limit the types of flags that fly above council buildings following the local elections.
Ollie Leader reports.
Ollie Leader reports.
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00:00an empty flagpole but is it a sign of things to come after sweeping the local elections last week
00:07reform uk have announced a new policy for english councils they've taken control of
00:15no flags to be flown above public buildings except for the union jack saint george's cross
00:23and the county flag now we're british we're proud to be british on council buildings i
00:29think it's a good thing to fly flags on appropriate days like ukraine you know we've flown the ukraine
00:35flag down in new romney and in leard and in folkestone um i think there's nothing wrong
00:40with some self-belief you know i'm proud to be british so i think we should be flying the union
00:45flag maystone saw six new reform councillors elected is this what people on the streets of the county
00:53town had in mind on polling day sounds a little pedantic but frankly that's democracy i'm i'm all
01:00for democracy and if that's what the policy is then let them do it absolutely right yes i think i feel
01:06very strongly that we should honor our legacies because as i've said the the george cross and the
01:11union flag seems to have kind of connotations of far right which um is clearly not the case
01:19so what is the problem with flying them and then if our flags want to be uh uh fly then they can be
01:26i possibly wouldn't even notice to be fair county hall is no stranger to flying a variety of flags
01:36the ukraine flag has been a common sight alongside the union jack since the beginning of the war with
01:44russia back in 2022 but with this new reform policy it's now unclear whether or not the flag will continue
01:55to be flown it suggests that the reform party are they make announcements without really thinking
02:01about what they're saying what the effects will be because we fly lots of flags here at kent county council
02:06we've had the flag for armed forces day for commonwealth day for pride in june and they send really
02:14important messages but for many ukrainians living here in kent support is more than just a flag there
02:22are many ways how people and local governments can demonstrate and provide tangible support the
02:30demonstration of the flag that's of course a very important symbol but it is a symbol what matters
02:37is the practical support kent county council have been approached for comments but just taking a look
02:44around maidstone it's clear the union jack is here to stay both on the high street and high above
02:53county hall ollie leader for kmtv