BRADFORD'S new flag policy could leave Council bosses with a tricky decision on St Patrick's Day - a councillor has claimed.
On Thursday, the Council's Reform-led Executive approved a new flag policy that limits the flags that can be flown from the flagpoles at Centenary Square.
Among the approved flags are flags to mark "United Kingdom constituent countries' Saints days."
Reform said the new policy will promote unity, but Councillor Matt Edwards (Green, Tong) suggested that even with the limited number of flags allowed, there were still contradictions.
He said with Northern Ireland being a constituent country of the UK, the Council would fly a flag to mark St Patrick's Day under the new policy.
(Image: T&A)
But he pointed out that the country does not have its own official flag.
Cllr Edwards suggested the new Council policy would prevent the flying of the Irish Tricolour, as the Republic of Ireland is not a constituent country of the UK.
It would leave the Council with the possibility that it has to fly the Union flag on St Patrick’s Day which he said would be a “heavily political statement given the situation in Northern Ireland and could be heavily divisive to the Irish community."
He added: “This is not bringing unity, it is bringing disunity.”
Jason Field, Director of Legal and Governance, said a decision on which flag to fly on St Patrick’s day would be up to the Council Executive.
Council Leader Stephen Place replied: “I think we’ll revisit that when we need to.”