Reform backs down from council HQ ‘County Durham flag ban’

The party took control of Durham County Council on Friday (May 2) after winning control of 10 local authorities in England at the local elections.

Reform chairman Zia Yusuf had said on Monday that “Reform-controlled English councils will move at speed to resolve that the only flags permitted to be flown on or in its buildings will be the Union Jack and St George’s flag.”

Writing on X, he added: “No other flags will be permitted to be flown on its flagpoles, balconies, reception desks or council chamber walls.”

It prompted concern from some in County Durham that the county flag would no longer be permitted to be flown above County Hall.

A Reform spokesman later said: “Reform UK will proudly fly the Union Jack, St George’s flag and county flags.

“Unlike the Tories and Labour, we are proud of our country and history.”

‘Beyond farcical’

Labour and Conservative MPs and former council candidates had criticised the idea that county flags would not be allowed to fly.

A candidate for Labour at last week’s local elections said: “Reform has taken control of a local authority dealing with huge financial pressures after 14 years of Tory austerity and spiralling costs for children’s services to name only two urgent problems, and the first thing on their agenda is which flags they want to fly outside county hall.

“It’s beyond farcical.”

(Image: Sarah Caldecott) Conservative MP for Hinckley and Bosworth, Dr Luke Evans asked whether it meant “Leicestershire County Council would not be able to fly the Leicestershire county flag”.

The Tories lost control of Leicestershire County Council last week, with Reform now the largest party but falling short of an overall majority.

Meanwhile, Labour MP Mike Tapp accused Reform of banning the Ukrainian flag from being flown, and called on the party to reverse the decision.

Mr Tapp, who has represented Dover and Deal since last July, said: “As VE Day reminds us, Britain has a proud history of working with allies to defeat dictators and tyrants.

“It tells you all you need to know about Nigel Farage’s Reform that their very first act after winning elections is to ban the Ukrainian flag from our town halls, in this of all weeks.”

He added: “Farage and Reform councillors should stop sucking up to Moscow and drop their ban on flying the Ukrainian flag immediately.”

Kent is one of the council areas where Reform took control at the local elections.

The party has laid out a number of proposals for councils it now runs since results were declared on Friday.

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Reform leader Nigel Farage has vowed to “resist” asylum seekers being housed in the county council areas now under Reform control.

Asked how this will be possible because contracts are drawn up between the Home Office and accommodation providers, Mr Yusuf told the BBC the party will use “every instrument of power available”.

“Judicial reviews, injunctions, there are planning laws,” he told the Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme.