Calderdale: New flag-flying protocol approved by councillors

Calderdale councillors have approved their new flag-flying protocol – issues related to which have included rows over which can be flown from the authority’s buildings.

These included the council’s leadership, Reform UK having won control of the council in May’s local elections, refusing a request for the Pride rainbow flag to be flown at Shibden Hall in June, Pride month.

Shibden Hall at Halifax was the home of Anne Lister, often cited as “the first modern lesbian” whose story inspired the television drama hit Gentleman Jack.

Supporters of the flag flying there had argued the Lister link brought tourists – and money – into the local economy.

Another related row followed when Pride banners paid for by donors and using banner spaces used by an advertising agency which works with the council were ordered to be taken down.

Recently scrutiny councillors debated the issue and recommended the new protocol be adopted.

They heard there is still provision for other flags to be requested to be flown from council buildings, following steps at the end of which the Leader of the Council, Reform UK’s Coun Dan Sutherland, will make the decision.

There is a priority order set down in the protocol – the Union Flag, the Cross of St George, which will be flown on designated occasions, the council’s own official flag, then the Yorkshire Flag, which is flown on Yorkshire Day, followed by the Armed Forces Flag, flown at the start of Armed Forces Week, and the Poppy Appeal Flag, flown during the Poppy Appeal.

The guidance states: “The precedence of flags will apply on the occasions where there is the need to fly two flags on the single flag pole at Halifax Town Hall and any other council location where a single flag pole is in use.”

Mayor of Calderdale, Coun Andrew Tagg, announced in the spring that the Union Flag will be flown from Halifax Town Hall on all days and throughout the year.

There are also a number of designated days when flags will be flown, for example the King’s birthday.

Reform’s decision to change the protocol was criticised by Green councillor Hannah Mickleburgh-Benn.

Coun Mickleburgh-Benn said Reform had campaigned and were elected on a platform of “cutting waste, not convening committees and full council for needless discussions, instead to focus on changes that will directly improve the lives of people in the borough.”

This was the opposite of that, she said.

“Is this not a classic example of needless discussions, insistent bureaucracy and – shockingly – an ineffective politicised change for the sake of making a politicised change?

“Within the current flag-flying policy you can fly the flags mandated in the change on the days you would like, so why make a change?” said Coun Mickleburgh-Benn.

But a majority of councillors voted to approve the new protocol at a meeting of the full Calderdale Council.