Reform accused of seeking to ban Ukraine flags from council buildings

Reform UK has been accused of seeking to ban the flying of Ukrainian flags over council buildings after the hard-right party said only the St George's and union flags would be flown by English councils it controls.

- Ben Quinn

The party's chair, Zia Yusuf, sparked controversy yesterday with a foray into political culture wars by announcing that the policy would be followed by the 10 local authorities in England it took control of in last week's local elections.

"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," he said on X. "No other flags will be permitted to be flown on its flagpoles, balconies, reception desks or council chamber walls."

While Yusuf's announcement was seen as targeting rainbow or pride flags, the party was later forced to respond to attacks by Labour and Conservative MPs who criticised the idea that county flags would not be allowed to fly.