Heritage · Impacts of Reform UK on local government

Since mid-2025 a number of councils have narrowed the set of flags flown from council buildings to a short, named list.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6] As a rule the list pairs the Union Flag with a national or county flag, and in some councils royal or military flags.^[2]^[3]^[5]^[7] Identity flags such as the Pride flag are no longer flown as a matter of course and instead require special approval.^[8]^[2]^[6] The instruments vary: a Full Council motion instructing Cabinet, a direct Cabinet decision, a protocol reported to a scrutiny committee, and a Full Council endorsement.^[7]^[2]^[5]^[4]

Key figures

How the protocols were made, and what they exclude

The restrictions arrived by different routes.^[7]^[2]^[5]^[4] In Lancashire a Full Council motion on 17 July 2025 asked Cabinet to review the flag-flying policy so that only the Union Flag, the Flag of England, the Lancashire Flag, royal flags and military flags take priority.^[7] Cabinet formally adopted the restricted arrangement on 4 September 2025.^[1] Leicestershire's Cabinet took the decision directly as a key decision, expressly revoking a flag protocol that had previously been agreed by all political group leaders.^[2] Warwickshire's Cabinet approved a policy restricting Shire Hall's flagpoles to three flags as a matter of course: the Union Flag, the Cross of St George and the County flag.^[3] In Staffordshire the new protocol, restricting the council to a named list of four flags, was reported to a scrutiny committee.^[5] West Northamptonshire's Full Council noted and endorsed an updated Flag Protocol on 26 June 2025.^[4] That protocol provides that flags should not be raised for groups with no connection to the UK.^[4] In Gateshead the Leader said declining to fly the Pride flag for Pride Month 2026 was in line with a policy of not promoting social political organisations.^[9] The practical effect falls on identity flags.^[8]^[10]^[11] Warwickshire Pride, whose flag had previously been flown outside the County Council building, was told it would have the same right as any other organisation to apply, with no automatic precedent.^[8] In Derbyshire the new arrangement ended an annual practice, in place since 2014, of flying the Pride flag to mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia.^[10] Leicestershire staff network representatives said the council's recently acquired Disability Pride Month flag would no longer be routinely flown.^[11]

Call-ins and objections that did not reverse the policy

Several of the decisions were formally challenged, and the challenges did not reverse them.^[12]^[13]^[14] In Leicestershire the new protocol was called in by the Overview and Scrutiny Commission, which voted by 7 to 6 to ask Cabinet to reconsider, citing a lack of staff consultation and unclear delegation of flag decisions.^[12] At a special meeting Cabinet clarified a single point about the default flag and confirmed that its decision stood in all other respects.^[13] In Warwickshire two call-ins, one from Liberal Democrat councillors and one cross-party, were heard together.^[14] Amendment motions to hand flag decisions to a cross-party group and to require published reasons were both defeated 4 to 6, and the committee resolved to take no action, leaving the policy in force.^[14] Opposition members there argued the policy risked breaching the council's equalities duties and pointed to its own equality impact assessment, which had flagged that the policy was likely to draw complaints.^[15] At West Northamptonshire a member of the public speaking for the Windrush Organisation objected that the protocol amounted to banning flags on public buildings and would send a message of exclusion to community groups.^[16]

Councils where no protocol was adopted, and a separate lamppost-flag question

Not every council investigated changed its flags.^[17]^[18]^[19] At Kent, the Selection and Member Services Committee considered a proposal on 7 May 2026 for the Monitoring Officer to develop a council flag-flying protocol.^[17] The proposal was voted on and not carried, and the Committee resolved not to proceed with developing a flag policy at that time.^[17] At Lincolnshire the minutes record only that a 'Flag Flying Policy' question was put to the Leader, with no text of the question, no answer and no decision minuted.^[20] At Nottinghamshire, at the first Full Council after Reform took control, a member asked the new Leader how the flag-flying protocol would change.^[18] The Leader announced no change, saying relevant policies would be considered 'at the appropriate point in time', and no later Full Council minutes in the corpus return to the subject.^[18]^[21] County Durham has no decision of its own on the record.^[19] The only related material is a remark by the Police and Crime Commissioner referencing 'a recent decision to lower pride flags' that the minutes do not attribute to the County Council.^[19] Council documents in Derbyshire and County Durham also record the third-party 'Raise the Colours' campaign, in which residents placed Union and St George's Cross flags on lampposts and roundabouts.^[22]^[23] These are third-party flags on public lampposts, not flags flown from council buildings.^[23]^[22] Derbyshire's highways policy on them is permissive and risk-based: the council does not intend to remove such flags unless they pose a safety hazard.^[22] In County Durham a police hate-crime briefing noted a spike in hate crime following the campaign, and a member said the lamppost flags had at times felt intimidatory.^[23]

References

1. Following the Full Council instruction, Cabinet on 4 September 2025 considered and approved an updated Lancashire County Council Flag Policy setting out which flags could be flown on county council buildings and the process for agreeing future changes, formally adopting the restricted flag-flying arrangement.

“Lancashire County Council Flag Policy Cabinet considered a report on an updated Lancashire County Council Flag Policy which outlined which flags could be flown on county council buildings, and set out the process for agreeing any future changes. Resolved: That the updated Lancashire County Council Flag Policy as set out at Appendix 'A' of the report, be approved.” Minutes, 4 September 2025 ↗

2. Leicestershire County Council's Cabinet, meeting 12 June 2025, resolved (Key Decision) to revoke the flag-flying protocol previously agreed by all political Group Leaders and adopt a new protocol restricting the two front County Hall flagpoles to the Union Flag and County Flag, the third front pole to the St George's flag or the Lord Lieutenant's flag, and delegating decisions on all other flag requests (community/celebration events) to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader.

“That the current flag flying protocol agreed by the political Group Leaders in the last council term be revoked” Decisions, 24 June 2025 ↗

“the Union Flag and the County Flag to fly permanently from two of the three poles at the front of County Hall” Decisions, 24 June 2025 ↗

3. Warwickshire County Council's Cabinet resolved on 4 September 2025 to approve a new Flag Policy formalising which flags fly from the flagpoles at Shire Hall, restricting them to three as a matter of course — the Union Flag, the Cross of St George and the County flag (swapped for the Armed Forces Covenant flag during Armed Forces Week) — with other organisations required to apply to the Chairman for any other flag to be flown; the report was presented by Portfolio Holder Councillor Michael Bannister.

“Resolved That Cabinet approves the Warwickshire County Council Flag Policy appended to this report.” Minutes, 4 September 2025 ↗

“Councillor Bannister explained that three flags would be flown as a matter of course: the Union flag, the Cross of St George and the County flag.” Minutes, 4 September 2025 ↗

4. On 26 June 2025 West Northamptonshire Full Council adopted an updated Flag Protocol restricting flag-flying on Council buildings (agenda item 307, moved by Councillor Arnull and seconded by Councillor Hastie); the protocol as discussed provides that flags should not be raised for groups with no connection to the UK, and Council resolved to note and endorse it.

“Flags should not be raised for groups with no connection to the UK.” Minutes, 26 June 2025 ↗

“RESOLVED: Council: a) Noted and endorsed the Flag Protocol.” Minutes, 26 June 2025 ↗

“Councillor Arnull proposed and Councillor Hastie seconded the report which sought Members’ consideration and endorsement of the Council’s updated Flag Protocol, to ensure that there was a clear and consistent approach to the flying of flags on Council buildings.” Minutes, 26 June 2025 ↗

5. Staffordshire County Council's Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee (28 October 2025) was told, in discussion of the Q2 2025/26 Integrated Performance Report, that a new flag-flying protocol restricts which flags the council flies to a named list — the Staffordshire County Banner, the Historic Staffordshire County Flag, the Union Flag and the Armed Forces Day Flag (no Pride/rainbow flag on the list) — and the Committee resolved to have the protocol and the reasons for the County Council banner's use reported back to it.

“The new flag protocol and the use of the County Council banner and the reasons for this would be looked at and reported back to the committee.” Minutes, 28 October 2025 ↗

“The new flag protocol listed the Staffordshire County Banner, Historic Staffordshire County Flag, Union Flag and Armed Forces Day Flag.” Minutes, 28 October 2025 ↗

6. Derbyshire County Council's Reform UK cabinet confirmed (written answer to Cllr G Kinsella, 9 Jul 2025 Council) it had already reduced the flags flown from County Council buildings to national, civic and ceremonial flags only, excluding the Pride flag; by the 10 Dec 2025 Council meeting the cabinet member for highways, Cllr C Hill, confirmed the Council was formally reviewing its 'Flag Flying Protocol' to prioritise national, civic or council symbols only, with exceptions considered only against agreed community-benefit criteria.

“The new administration has reduced the number of flags it will fly from County Council buildings to those focused on national, civic and ceremonial flags only.” Minutes, 9 July 2025 ↗

“Work is currently being undertaken to review the Council’s Flag Flying Protocol to prioritise national, civic, or council symbols, with exceptions considered under agreed criteria aligned to community benefit.” Minutes, 10 December 2025 ↗

7. At Full Council on 17 July 2025, Lancashire County Council carried a motion (Notice of Motion 2, moved by County Councillor Joshua Roberts, seconded by County Councillor David Dwyer) resolving to ask Cabinet to review the council's flag-flying policy so that only the Union Flag, the Flag of England, the Lancashire Flag, royal flags, and military flags/ensigns take priority; a rival amendment (proposed by County Councillor Azhar Ali, seconded by County Councillor Hamish Mills) that would have sent the matter to the Community, Cultural, and Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee instead was defeated 27-52, after which the substantive motion was carried.

“This council therefore resolves to ask Cabinet to review the council's approach and policy to flying flags over council property in line with this principle and to ensure the priority of that only the Union Flag, the Flag of England, the Lancashire Flag, royal flags, and military flags and ensigns.” Minutes, 17 July 2025 ↗

“The Amendment was therefore LOST. The substantive Motion was then put to the vote and was CARRIED.” Minutes, 17 July 2025 ↗

“Notice of Motion 2 It was moved by County Councillor Joshua Roberts and seconded by County Councillor David Dwyer that: This council believes we should be proud to fly the flags of our nation and of Lancashire and individual political causes should not take precedence over our shared identity.” Minutes, 17 July 2025 ↗

8. At the Cabinet meeting, councillors noted the Pride flag had previously been flown outside the County Council building; under the new three-flag policy Warwickshire Pride (who had written to object) was told they would have the same right as any other organisation to apply, with no automatic precedent to fly their flag.

“He felt that the flying of the Pride flag outside the County Council building had sent a message that the Council would not judge people on their sexuality but on their character.” Minutes, 4 September 2025 ↗

“In response to a letter received from Warwickshire Pride, Councillor Bannister advised that their organisation would have the same rights as any other and did not get any automatic precedent.” Minutes, 4 September 2025 ↗

9. At Gateshead Council's Full Council meeting on 4 June 2026, Councillor Edge asked the Leader why the Council had chosen not to fly the Pride flag during Pride Month 2026 and whether it intended to reduce/withdraw support for local Pride events; the Leader, Councillor Allan, confirmed this was 'in line with our policy not to promote social political organisations' and that the administration was 'not on promoting social political causes in Gateshead' — i.e. the Council declined to fly the Pride flag this year, citing a standing administration policy against promoting social/political causes.

“This matter is in line with our policy not to promote social political organisations. Our administration is focused on the governance of the Council and not on promoting social political causes in Gateshead.” Minutes, 4 June 2026 ↗

“Can the Leader explain why the Council has chosen not to fly the Pride flag during Pride Month this year, and whether the Council intends to reduce or withdraw” Minutes, 4 June 2026 ↗

10. DCC did not fly the Pride flag to mark International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) in May 2025 -- a practice it had followed every year since 2014 -- and the cabinet's written response (Cllr A Graves, 9 Jul 2025 Council) attributed this to the new administration's reduction of flags flown from County Council buildings to national, civic and ceremonial flags only.

“The new administration has reduced the number of flags it will fly from County Council buildings to those focused on national, civic and ceremonial flags only.” Minutes, 9 July 2025 ↗

“This day has been marked by DCC by flying the pride flag since 2014.” Minutes, 9 July 2025 ↗

11. Council staff network representatives told the Scrutiny Commission call-in hearing (24 June 2025) that under the new protocol flags would no longer be used unless agreed by the Leader, citing the Disability Pride Month flag -- recently acquired by the Council -- as an example of a flag that would no longer be routinely flown.

“Considering the flags will now not be used unless agreed by the Leader - for example, the Disability Pride Month flag which has not long been acquired” Minutes, 8 September 2025 ↗

12. The new flag protocol was called in by the Overview & Scrutiny Commission; at its meeting on 24 June 2025 the Commission resolved, on a motion moved by Mrs Taylor and seconded by Mr Poland, by 7 votes to 6, to ask Cabinet to reconsider parts of the 12 June decision, citing lack of staff consultation and a lack of clarity on delegated flag decisions.

“It was moved by Mrs Tayor and seconded by Mr Poland that:” Minutes, 24 June 2025 ↗

“That the Cabinet be asked to reconsider its decision regarding the adoption of a new Protocol for Flying Flags at County Hall taken at its meeting held on 12 June 2025” Minutes, 24 June 2025 ↗

“The Motion was put and carried, 7 Members voting for the motion, and 6 members voting against.” Minutes, 24 June 2025 ↗

13. At a special meeting on 3 July 2025 Cabinet reconsidered the call-in and, other than clarifying that the Union Flag defaults on the Quadrangle pole when no designated-day flag is flying (other flags there restricted to exceptional national/international events determined by the Chief Executive with the Leader), confirmed that the 12 June 2025 decision to introduce the restrictive Protocol for Flying Flags at County Hall stands in all other respects -- i.e. the restrictive protocol was reaffirmed and adopted.

“the decision of the Cabinet at its meeting on 12 th June 2025 to introduce a new Protocol for Flying Flags at County Hall stands” Minutes, 15 July 2025 ↗

“The Union Flag will be flown from this flag pole at all times when another specific flag is not being flown.” Minutes, 3 July 2025 ↗

“The flying of other specific flags from the fourth flag pole will be restricted to a recognition of exceptional national or international events which may arise” Minutes, 3 July 2025 ↗

14. Two call-ins against the Flag Policy (one from Liberal Democrat councillors, one cross-party) were heard by the Resources and Fire & Rescue Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 22 September 2025; amendment motions moved by Councillor Keith Kondakor (seconded by Councillor Richard Dickson) to hand flag decisions to a cross-party group, and by Councillor Richard Dickson (seconded by Councillor Keith Kondakor) to require published reasons, were both defeated 4–6, and the committee resolved to take no action — leaving the restrictive Flag Policy in force.

“Resolved That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee takes no action on the Flag Policy.” Minutes, 22 September 2025 ↗

“Councillor Keith Kondakor proposed a motion that decisions on which flags could be flown should be made by a group containing the Chair of the Council and two members of the next two largest parties that made up the Council. The motion was seconded by Councillor Richard Dickson.” Minutes, 22 September 2025 ↗

15. Opposition councillors at the call-in hearing argued the new Flag Policy risked breaching the Council's Equalities Act duties and was aimed at excluding LGBTQ+ recognition; Councillor Sam Jones said the policy was aimed at eliminating support for the LGBTQ+ community, and Councillor Richard Dickson said the policy's own equality impact assessment had flagged it was likely to draw complaints.

“Councillor Sam Jones stated his belief the flag policy was aimed more at eliminating support for the LGBTQ+ community, and noted concerns that had been raised by the relevant staff networks.” Minutes, 22 September 2025 ↗

“Councillor Dickson noted the policy’s equality impact assessment had stated before its enaction had been agreed by Cabinet that it was likely to draw complaints.” Minutes, 22 September 2025 ↗

16. A member of the public (Martin Cole, addressing Council on behalf of the Windrush Organisation) objected to the proposed Flag Protocol at the same 26 June 2025 meeting, characterising it as banning flags on public buildings and warning it would send a message of exclusion to community groups.

“the Windrush Organisation were saddened by the Council’s proposed Flag Policy; various flags were statements of solidarity and respect for communities that added to the vibrancy and progress of the nation, and banning flags on public buildings undermined efforts to build bridges across cultures and would send a troubling message of exclusion.” Minutes, 26 June 2025 ↗

17. On 7 May 2026 Kent County Council's Selection and Member Services Committee considered Recommendation F of the Monitoring Officer's Constitution review — a proposal for the Monitoring Officer to develop a Council flag-flying protocol, with an amendment proposed to place responsibility for flag-flying with the Chairman of the Council instead — and the original proposal was voted on and not carried, so the Committee resolved not to proceed with developing a flag policy at that time; no restrictive flag-flying protocol was adopted and no reference to removing or declining to fly the Pride flag was found in the corpus.

“F. RESOLVED that the proposal to develop a Council flag policy be not agreed at this time.” Minutes, 7 May 2026 ↗

“Recommendation F: Request that the Monitoring Officer lead on the development of a council flag policy/protocol for discussion at a future meeting a) The Committee considered a proposal for the Monitoring Officer to develop a Council flag-flying protocol. An amendment was proposed to place responsibility for flag-flying with the Chairman of the Council.” Minutes, 7 May 2026 ↗

“c) The Committee therefore voted on the original proposal, which was not carried. RESOLVED that the proposal to develop a Council flag policy be not agreed at this time.” Minutes, 7 May 2026 ↗

18. At Nottinghamshire County Council's 22 May 2025 Full Council meeting (the first after Reform took control), Councillor Mike Adams asked the Leader of the Council, Councillor Mick Barton (Reform), how the Council's flag-flying protocol on or in its buildings would change compared with the previous Conservative administration's approach; Barton's reply did not announce any change or decision — he said the administration would take time to determine its priorities and would consider the relevant Council Policies "at the appropriate point in time". No motion, vote, or protocol change was recorded, and no mention of the Pride flag specifically; the item is a question raised and deferred, not an adopted or proposed restriction. No later Full Council minutes present in the corpus (10 July 2025, 18 September 2025, 20 November 2025, 19 March 2026) return to the subject.

“We can consider the relevant Council Policies alongside this at the appropriate point in time.” Document, 10 July 2025 ↗

“Can the Leader of the Reform administration explain how the Count y Council’s flag flying protocol, on or in its buildings, will change in comparison with the previous Conservative administration’s approach?” Document, 10 July 2025 ↗

“Improving services for local people and communitie s are important to me and the administration.” Document, 10 July 2025 ↗

19. No evidence in the published corpus that Durham County Council itself has adopted, proposed, or moved to adopt a flag-flying protocol restricting its flagpoles, nor a council decision to remove or decline to fly the Pride flag. The only related material found is a comment by the Durham Police and Crime Commissioner, Joy Allen, at a joint Durham Police and Crime Panel meeting (attended by Durham County Council and Darlington Borough Council members) on 9 October 2025: she referenced 'a recent decision to lower pride flags' that had made people in the city feel unsafe, while discussing a High Court judgment on police impartiality at Pride events. The minutes do not identify which body made that decision, so it cannot be attributed to Durham County Council on the documentary record.

“a recent decision to lower pride flags had made many in the city feel unsafe and that people had ‘turned their back on’ those people.” Minutes, 9 October 2025 ↗

20. At Lincolnshire County Council's Full Council meeting on 23 May 2025, Councillor Chris Reeve put a question on the topic 'Flag Flying Policy' to Council Leader Councillor Sean Matthews under Council Procedure Rule 10.3; the minutes record only the questioner, respondent and topic label, with no text of the question, the answer given, or any resulting decision, so this is evidence a flag-flying question was raised but not evidence of any protocol being adopted, proposed, or of the Pride flag being removed, declined, or reaffirmed.

“Councillor Chris Reeve Councillor Sean Matthews Flag Flying Policy” Minutes, 23 May 2025 ↗

21. Nottinghamshire County Council's 22 May 2025 minutes log the exchange in the meeting's own index of questions as a question-and-reply only (no motion or vote): 'from Councillor Mike Adams regarding flag flying protocol (Councillor Mick Barton replied)' — confirming the topic was raised as a question to the new Reform Leader, not brought as a motion to adopt or change a flag policy.

“4) from Councillor Mike Adams regarding flag flying protocol (Councillor Mick Barton replied)” Document, 10 July 2025 ↗

22. Separately from the County Hall flag-flying protocol, DCC's highways policy for flags attached by residents to lampposts and roundabouts (e.g. Union Jack and St George's Cross flags put up during the 'Raise the Colours' movement in August 2025) is permissive and risk-based: the cabinet member for highways confirmed the Council does not intend to remove such flags unless they pose a safety hazard.

“The Council has stated it does not intend to remove Union Jack or St George’s Cross flags from lampposts or roundabouts unless they pose a safety hazard.” Minutes, 10 December 2025 ↗

23. Separately, at Durham County Council's Safer and Stronger Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee (30 October 2025), a police hate-crime briefing noted a spike in hate crime following the 'Raise the Colours' campaign (unofficial flags placed on lampposts, including St George's cross graffiti on doors), and at Audit Committee (26 November 2025) a member said the erection of flags on lampposts across the county had at times felt intimidatory. Neither item describes a council decision about flags flown from council buildings/flagpoles; both concern third-party flags on public lampposts and community/hate-crime impact.

“There had been a spike in hate crime following the ‘Raise the Colours’ campaign.” Minutes, 8 December 2025 ↗

“he had found to be the case with the erection of flags on lampposts through his community and elsewhere across the county” Minutes, 26 November 2025 ↗