Councillor tears into Labour-led council after ordering residents to REMOVE England bunting ahead of World Cup semi-final: 'Pathetic!'

A Cheshire councillor has launched a scathing attack on his local Labour-led authority after ordering residents to remove England flags displayed on their street.

Speaking to GB News, Independent Councillor Simon Boone hit out at the "pathetic" move by the council to send letters to locals, telling them that the flags pose a "danger" to drivers.

Residents received a letter from the council telling them to take down the bunting because they are "contrary to Section 43 of the Antisocial Behaviour Act and Section 132 of the Highways Act".

They say the bunting, displayed on Church Road in Northwich, has been put up "without lawful and legal consent", and that in doing so, it is now being investigated.

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Offering his verdict on the order by the council, Mr Boone told GB News: "What planet are they on?

"It's the semi-final, England versus Argentina tomorrow, and members of the public who want to celebrate that are being asked to take down what is actually bunting. It's pathetic, isn't it?"

As Martin argued that they are "policing flags and bunting", he asked Mr Boone whether he believes there may be an underlying "hatred of everything English".

The councillor responded: "Cheshire West Council's Labour-led. They don't like to see Saint George's Cross or the Union Flag anywhere for any occasion.

"They put other flags up, and we've seen those elsewhere on public buildings. The trans flag, the progress flag, they don't have permission and they go up, and that's on public buildings."

Mr Boone issued a clear message to locals after receiving the letters, urging them to not remove their flags and bunting.

He declared: "Tomorrow's a big day, and minor rules like this should just be ignored, shouldn't they?

"My advice to the public would be just ignore the council, ignore this Labour-led council and keep your bunting up and enjoy the game."

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The Cheshire councillor argued that Britons should be encouraged to celebrate England's progress in the World Cup as this may be "a once in a lifetime" opportunity to see the team win.

He said: "This is down people's streets where they want to celebrate with their neighbours, this big occasion.

"We're one game away from the final. This is something that is once in a lifetime for a lot of people, certainly for myself, and we need to celebrate it.

"And I think every resident has the right to celebrate something as good as this."

In a statement, Cheshire West and Cheshire Council told GB News: "Flags are an important symbol of national identity, unity and respect.

"Cheshire West and Cheshire Council operates a clear and established flag flying protocol to maintain the value that flag flying represents.

"The council flies flags from official flagpoles at key civic locations including Chester Town Hall, HQ Blake and Crematorium, Ellesmere Port, Civic Way, the Portal office, Winsford Wyvern House and sites in Northwich.

"The unauthorised fixing of flags, however to street lights, road signs or other highway infrastructure is unlawful and unacceptable."

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