A Reform UK-led county council has stripped its chief executive of the power to decide which flags are flown outside the council’s headquarters. The move comes following a row over the flying of a progress pride flag outside the headquarters of Warwickshire County Council.
The pride progress flag is an adaptation of the pride flag with additional elements added in to represent other marginalised communities within the LGBTQ+ community, including those affected by HIV/AIDS, the black and brown community and transgender people.
Reform councillor George Finch had called for the flag to be removed when he was elected as leader of the council but was denied by chief executive Monica Fogarty. The council’s cabinet has now voted to transfer decision-making power from Ms Fogarty to the council chairman, Reform councillor Edward Harris. Explaining the policy on flags at a meeting on September 4, Finch said: “It takes it out of the hands of the elected leader, it takes it out of the hands of non-elected members, it puts it in the hands of the chairman of the council.”
However, leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition, councillor Jerry Roodhouse hit back at claims that the action meant future decisions on the raising of flags would be non-political.
He said: “I’ve never seen a chairman yet go against their political party in a council meeting, in a chamber, anywhere. So don’t give me that rubbish.”
Finch also dismissed any adverse impact the decision could have on members of council staff who represent marginalised communities.
In response to a question asking for reassurance that “people that come into this building or seek work in this building” would not be judged on their sexuality, but rather “their work and their character,” Finch claimed that the matter was about common sense.
He added: Finch said: “This is the point of common sense. It’s not about the colour of your skin, your sexuality, who you love, it’s not about any of that. It’s about whether you can do the job.
“This county, everyone that’s in it, is identified by three things. The United Kingdom, England and our county.”
Prior to the local elections, Reform UK pledged to remove any flag raised on a public building that was not the Union Jack or St George after years of criticising decisions by councils nationwide to raise the flags of underrepresented communities and foreign countries.