Reform tables motion calling on Labour authority to limit flag flying to Union Jack and St George's cross

Pride activists will stage a protest over a Reform UK councillor's bid to restrict flag flying to the Union flag, the St George's flag and Southampton's city flag.

Southampton City Council will debate proposals to restrict which flags can be shown outside of its Civic Centre.

Philip Crook, a councillor representing Nigel Farage’s party, has tabled a motion calling on the Labour-run authority to exclude flags like the rainbow-themed LGBT Pride flag.

Instead, the council will only be allowed to fly the Union flag, the flag of St George and the Southampton city flag.

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Local groups Southampton Pride and Trans Pride Southampton have voiced opposition to Wednesday’s full council meeting, announcing an emergency protest.

In a statement posted on Facebook, Southampton Pride Trust said: “For many people, a Pride flag is not simply a piece of fabric.

“It is a visible sign that says, ‘you are welcome here, you belong here, you will be treated with dignity and respect’.

“When local authorities choose to fly the Pride flag during Pride month or significant occasions, they are not elevating one community above another.

“They are recognising a community that has historically faced discrimination, exclusion and violence, while making a clear public commitment that everyone should be able to participate equally in civic life.”

The statement adds: “Sometimes inclusion also requires visible acts that reassure communities who continue to experience prejudice that they are seen, valued and protected.”

Trans Pride Southampton called on the council to expand its use of Pride flags.

The group’s statement said: “This is a very hard time for especially trans people right not, and we call on the council to show solidarity with our community.

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“Join us on Wednesday, July 15, with your most fabulous clothes and Pride flags to peacefully protest against this foolish motion.”

Cllr Crook, who was elected in May, said the range of flags flown outside the council’s headquarters should be condensed in favour of a single unifying symbol.

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “We have seen outside of the council, not just here but across the country, flags of many different types of organisations and a lot of people in the party believe there’s only one flag that really unifies us and that’s the Union flag along with the flag of St George being an English council and the city flag being the city of Southampton.

“I thought let’s have one unifying flag that over centuries has represented us in good times and bad times and guess what, on Wednesday there will be millions of English men and women shouting their heads off proudly flying the St George’s flag.

“It unifies us as a country and that’s the main purpose behind it and it removes any controversy.”

Responding to the planned protest, he said: “As long as it is a peaceful protest they are perfectly entitled to and we are not banning anything.

“We are just saying we need one flag, keep it simple.

“Any organisation can fly their flag at their premises or demonstrations or marches.

“It is a free country. As long as it’s peaceful, there is no intimidation and there is no violence then fine they can protest what they like, no problems at all.”

The council currently flies a range of flags which are hoisted on pre-arranged dates throughout the year.

These include the Pride flag, the Armed Forces flag, International Women’s Day, White Ribbon Day, Vaisakhi, Black History Month and Windrush Day.

The authority has to comply with Government guidance on when to fly the Union flag, but it is also allowed to raise it on other days.

The council flies the Love Don’t Hate flag daily, while the United Nations flag is often in use when the third flagpole is bare.

The Labour group said in a statement they were aware of the distress caused by the row to the LGBT community.

They said: "As Labour councillors, we have always been vocal about our belief that Southampton is a great city because of its diversity, not in spite of it, and we will continue to advocate for all of our residents, including those within the LGBTQIA+ community.

"We wish to make it clear that any individual who chooses Southampton as their home and gives back to their community is more than welcome here, and as Labour councillors we will continue standing against those who insist on stoking fear and division in our great city."

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