Reform hauls down Ukrainian flag after leader says ‘foreign countries’ should be banished 

Reform has hauled down the Ukrainian flag from a town hall under a policy to prioritise English symbols outside council buildings.

The blue and yellow colors were removed and replaced with a frayed red and white banner showing Warwickshire’s bear and ragged staff. 

The move followed a row between the party and the county council’s chief executive over the Progress Pride, which it wanted removed. 

The rainbow emblem was one of several flags, also including the Ukrainian symbol, that had been on three flagpoles outside Shire Hall in Warwick over the summer.  

Council leader George Finch only wants the Union, St George’s and county banners to fly, in line with his party’s national policy, which impacts other English councils it controls. 

The rainbow symbol was taken down after Pride month ended but the Ukraine flag had remained before the Reform policy was adopted by the council at a meeting on September 23.

Nigel Farage had taken aim at chief executive Monica Fogarty, who had defended the Pride banner, saying she ‘knew better than the people’ and should ‘look for a new job’.   

Under the new policy, exceptions outside the status quo can be made for royal or Armed Forces flags, but requests for other symbols have to be sanctioned by the council’s chairman — who is a Reform member.  

The council’s press office said that the ‘official request for the flag to be taken down’ came in on Monday and was ‘actioned immediately.’ 

Cllr Finch previously specified that only three Reform-approved flags should be on display after Armed Forces Week at the end of June. 

In correspondence released under the Freedom of Information Act, he wrote: ‘Flags of our country and county are to be prioritised over flags of foreign countries and politically motivated symbols.’  

Cllr Finch, who made news after becoming leader aged 19, asked: ‘Why will the Ukraine flag take precedent [sic] over the County Flag or Union Flag?’ 

Ms Fogarty had refused to take down the Pride flag, saying it had flown annually ‘for many years and I see no reason to diverge from this approach’ before it was lowered at the end of the LGBTQ+ month as planned. 

Warwickshire’s solidarity with Ukraine has included welcoming refugees from the country, ongoing fundraising for ambulances to save lives in the warzone and through the local Queen’s Royal Hussars museum hosting a touring exhibition, highlighting the commitment the UK Armed Forces continue to show their allies through Operation Interflex.    

labor councillor John Holland accused Reform of putting its national flag policy above the interests of the Warwickshire community.

‘We have for a long time been showing support for the people of Ukraine and the views of the Reform councillors are outrageous,’ he said. 

‘Their councillors have taken instructions from Reform HQ and decided to make it a battle within the council, with Nigel Farage getting involved.

‘They should have supported our Warwickshire position, but they didn’t.’

Cllr Holland added: ‘We have refugees living in Warwickshire, they hope to be able to return to their own country, and we want to show our support.  

‘The British government’s policy is to support Ukraine and we are part of that, whereas Reform seem not be part of the UK’s position.’

Cllr Sarah Feeney, also labor, had defended the flying of the Ukrainian flag, telling the committee meeting: ‘For us it’s our show as councillors, as a council, of our collective support for peoples.  

‘Under the last administration for example, we were proud to fly the Ukraine flag for quite some time. And indeed at the last full council before the elections I moved the motion to reaffirm the council’s support for Ukraine, some of which needs to be visible and clear. So I would suggest on significant dates for Ukraine, for example, we should be flying their flag.’ 

At the meeting, Reform councillor Mike Bannister responded: ‘It’s a storm in a teacup, opposition councillors have made too much of this.

‘There wasn’t a policy, we’ve set down a clear policy, there are three flags that will fly and the chairman will stand by to receive requests from all organisations. No one organisation should be put above another.’  

Cllr Bannister suggested that there may be larger groups than Pride in the community whose cases would be considered by the chairman.  

The decision may have an impact on other local authorities, according to an assessment by the council, which reads: ‘As more councils are formalising their flag policies, others may be interested in the wording.’  

Metro has approached Reform for further comment.  

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