Town hall flies Pride flag after MP's criticisms

A council has voted to fly an LGBTQ+ flag outside its town hall in response to criticism of the symbol by the local MP.

Conservative-run Great Yarmouth Borough Council in Norfolk said there was "cross party support" for the decision after Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe said the flag should not be flown from public buildings.

The MP has said the Progress Pride flag, which is a redesign of the older Pride flag, promoted "gender identity ideology" over "scientific reality".

Lowe said the flag "should not be on display in hospitals, schools and other public institutions".

In a post on social media, Lowe said: "If private individuals wish to display their views, that’s fine but not when taxpayer money is involved.

"Keep politics out of the public sector."

In response, cabinet members voted to fly the very same flag outside the Town Hall.

Carl Smith, leader of the council, said: "We are fully supportive of the LGBTQ+ community in this district, some of whom work within the council."

The move gained cross-party support, with leader of the Labour group Trevor Wainwright also voting for the move.

Councillors and the chief executive Sheila Oxtoby posted a photo of themselves on the council's official Facebook page.

A council spokesman said the vote to fly the flag showed their"commitment to celebrating diversity and promoting inclusivity".

Within 15 minutes of the post, Lowe responded on Facebook.

"The gender ideology promoted within this flag is concerning, and advances the idea that children are often born in the ‘wrong’ body," he said.

"This sends an entirely warped message to young people, which can have incredibly concerning consequences, as has been proven through the Cass Review.

"There are two sexes: female and male. People shouldn’t be afraid to say so. It is confusing and potentially dangerous to cloud that.

"We must respect everyone’s individual choices, and everyone is free to live as they choose, but that does not change scientific reality."

The Progress Pride flag features the original Pride flag rainbow colours, with the addition of extra colours in the shape of an arrow pointing right from the hoist side of the flag, representing the idea of progress.

The designer of the arrow element said the colours represent marginalised LGBTIQ+ people of colour using stripes of black and brown, as well as the triad of blue, pink and white from the trans flag.

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