Over recent months the British Movement Northern region website has carried reports about various city and town councils actively removing Union flags and Saint George Cross flags which local patriots have hung from roadside structures. This politically motivated hostility to so-called ‘un-authorised’ displays of national flags is particularly noted in those councils dominated by the Labour Party, Liberal Democrats and the Green Party.
In direct contrast in those councils dominated by Reform UK have indulged in a tit-for-tat response by promoting and protecting displays of the national flags and enforcing removal of Gay Pride Rainbow flags. Palestine flags and assorted LGBT/Trans campaign flags. The previous reports by BM Northern focussed on specific situations across South Yorkshire and also in York and North Yorkshire. This time this article covers other parts of the North.
A recent government guideline document offers this ‘guidance’. “UK law on flags is largely permissive, with local planning rules specifying which flags can be flown without needing permission.”
“These include the Union Jack, England’s St George’s Cross, Scotland’s Saltire, Wales’ Y Ddraig Goch, (the Welsh Dragon), and Northern Ireland’s Union Flag or historic St Patrick’s Saltire. Other flags exempt from permission include national flags of any country, the Commonwealth, the UN, local UK areas, historic counties, armed forces, sports clubs, Rainbow/Pride, NHS, and certain awards or environmental flags.”
Flags must not carry advertisements and must meet size restrictions if flown from poles. “There is no official list of banned flags in the UK, including the Nazi Swastika, though context matters. Displaying a flag to intimidate or threaten can count as a criminal offence, such as draping a Nazi flag outside a synagogue.”
“The Terrorism Act 2000 proscribes over 70 organisations, and flying flags linked to them publicly may be illegal.” What flags are banned in the UK? There isn’t a list of flags that are explicitly banned by law in the UK, even the Nazi Swastika. However, this doesn’t mean that flying a particular flag can’t result in a criminal offence.
“The context in which a flag is used determines whether an offence has been committed. For instance, displaying a Nazi flag outside a synagogue could likely be considered a hate crime, while using one in the filming of a historical drama would not. West Yorkshire Police have stated regarding the Nazi flag and symbols: “It is not currently a criminal offence to sell or own Nazi memorabilia in the UK.”
“However, the government does maintain a list of over 70 ‘proscribed organisations’ under the Terrorism Act 2000, and publicly displaying a flag bearing the name of one of these banned organisations, such as Hamas, is more likely to be deemed an offence. One of the categories of offence under this Act states: wear clothing or carry or display articles in public in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that the individual is a member or supporter of a proscribed organisation.”
Notice the comment from West Yorkshire Police, “It is not currently a criminal offence to sell or own Nazi memorabilia in the UK.” Is that a hint that at some future date a Labour government might be ‘persuaded’ to change the law on that particular matter?
It is permitted to display: “A flag of any island, county, district, borough, burgh, parish, city, town or village within the United Kingdom. “The flag of the Black Country, East Anglia, Wessex, any Part of Lincolnshire, any Riding of Yorkshire or any historic county within the United Kingdom. The flag of any administrative area within any country outside the United Kingdom. Any flag of His Majesty’s forces. “The Armed Forces Day flag.”
These flags or flagpoles are allowed without permission, provided they do not display any advertisement or additions (for example, using the flag to advertise your business). They must also adhere to certain size restrictions if flown from a flagpole. It is not beyond likelihood that a hostile Labour Party or Green Party dominated government, no doubt enthusiastically cheered on by the Liberal Democrats, will seek to outlaw ‘unauthorised’ displays of our national flags and will use an updated version of the Public Order Act to enforce a more socialist attitude towards controlling public displays of patriotism. The warning signs are there.
British Movement is a legal organisation and there are no legal restrictions on displaying the British Movement Sunwheel flag.
Credits:
Main Image: BM North West.
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