Row over council's new 'British values' flag rules

Reform's decision to scrap Leicestershire County Council's flag flying policy has been formally challenged by opposition parties.

The party approved the move during its first cabinet meeting on 12 June, discontinuing a previously agreed schedule of flags to be displayed outside County Hall in Glenfield, including those to mark LGBTQ+ Pride Month, Windrush Day and others.

New Reform council leader Dan Harrison said the changes to the protocol were "to celebrate British values that unite us all".

However, opposition leaders have called the decision in for further scrutiny, saying they did not believe it had been "thought through properly".

Under the new rules, Harrison said the union jack flag and the county council's own flag would fly permanently on two of the three flagpoles outside County Hall.

The St George's flag would fly from the third pole, he said, unless it was replaced with the Lord Lieutenant's flag when they were in the building.

A fourth flagpole in County Hall's quadrangle could be used to mark events such as Armed Forces Day, Commonwealth Day and Armistice Day.

Decisions on flying all other flags are to be delegated to council chief executive John Sinnott after discussion with Harrison.

The decision prompted a joint letter from representatives of LGBTQ+, disabled and BAME staff who said they had not been properly consulted on the change.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said the decision would be subject to further debate on Tuesday.

A call-in announcement, signed by Conservative Deborah Taylor, Liberal Democrat Michael Mullaney, Labour's Jewel Miah and Naomi Bottomley for the Green Party, said the decision was "not clear".

According to the LDRS, it states: "It cannot be left to a weekly decision. Neither can the staff be left without any clear direction.

"This decision was weakened by the current positive position of our approved flag flying policy."

Harrison previously told the LDRS that staff were "protected by law" and said they "could always" fly flags at home.

"I will meet with their groups and assure them that their health, their safety, the [working] environment will be safe," he added.

"Nobody would ever disrespect anybody because there's a law to protect them, and we as a county council will guide the way to protect these people."

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