Havering’s Political Row Over the Flying of The Pride Flags.

The Reform UK leader of Havering Council has condemned protestors who hung LGBT pride flags on the town hall last week, writes local democracy reporter Sebastian Mann.

They attached the rainbow LGBT flag and the blue, pink and white transgender flag to an out-of-use flagpole on 25th June.

The protest was an apparent response to the council’s decision to not fly any pride flags during Pride Month. Havering announced earlier in June it will only fly the Armed Forces Flag and the Union Flag on civic buildings going forward.

Councillor Keith Prince, leader of London’s only Reform council, said in a video posted to X that “trespassers” had “abused our flagpoles” but, after taking them down, they were “once again abuse-free”.

Standing before a Union Flag backdrop, he said: “Let me make it very clear to everybody who lives in Havering, or anyone else who’s interested, there is only one flag that is going to be sitting atop the town hall once we’ve got the flagpoles fixed.”

The Reform administration – which won control of the town hall in a landslide victory last month – announced the Pride Flag ban just days before a Pride ceremony, which was similarly scrapped.

The leadership said the Union Flag sufficiently represented everyone.

The move attracted criticism online, with Green Party leader Zack Polanski branding it “Trumpian nonsense”.

A spokesperson for LGBT charity Kaleidoscope said it was “devastating” but “would not erase the LGBTQ community in Havering”.

The council’s official opposition group, the Havering Residents Association – which controlled the council prior to its defeat in the May elections – called it “disappointing”.

Former deputy mayor Councillor Barry Mugglestone said: “I am disappointed that the Reform administration at Havering Council has refused to fly the Pride flag, when openly saying they support our Armed Forces community.

“We need to remember that now lesbian, gay, bisexual personnel are fully integrated and welcome to serve openly in the UK armed forces.”

Only flying flags that represent either the United Kingdom or the Armed Forces is policy of Reform.

London’s annual Pride parade will be held on 4th July.

Categories:

 Culture

Authorities:

 Havering Counci

Stay up to date with all of our latest updates and content by following us on our social media accounts!

We have created community pages where we will share our up-to-date stories happening in the area. Add the area closest to where you live.