Town hall bans staff from flying the flag from vehicles

3:34pm Monday 12th June 2006

By Ed Chadwick

Bosses have told them they cannot fly the flag of St George from council vehicles.

But their explanation that it is for health and safety reasons has been dismissed by staff a "political correctness gone mad".

With England having beaten Paraguay by one goal to nil on Saturday, and with World Cup fever upping a pace and England topping their group, council workers want to be allowed to fly the flag.

One said: "I think the health and safety reason is just an excuse. The council thinks the flag is racist and sends out the wrong message.

"But I think that is absolutely ridiculous what's wrong with showing a bit of national pride and getting behind the England team? Once again, it's political correctness gone mad."

The order to remove all flags attached to the outside of council vehicles was issued to staff on Friday.

A Bolton council spokesman said: "It's a simple and, we think, sensible safety issue. We don't want to spoil people's fun or enjoyment and we're all supporting England and want them to win.

"But there is a concern that flags are appearing in all shapes and sizes and that if they fly off a vehicle they could strike someone or hit the windscreen of a vehicle and distract the driver with possibly serious consequences. We have no problem if drivers want to put flags inside the council vehicles, as long as they don't obscure their vision.

"We are not being heavy handed. We're just applying some common sense. Staff appreciate it is a safety issue and are co-operating and are putting the flags inside of the council vehicles."

The battle for the right to fly the flag has long been controversial with some claiming it is harmless patriotism which others believe it is racist and right-wing.

Two years ago, staff at Safeway in Harwood were ordered to remove England flags and bunting after bosses said it was distracting them from their work.

Although Safeway - which has since been taken over by Morrison's, a firm which has no such ban and is getting behind the 2006 World Cup - ruled staff could not even wear England shirts and hats on match days, rival supermarkets were doing all they could to help fly the flag.

This year most supermarkets have been raking in the cash by selling all manner of England merchandise, including flags.

Also in 2004, during the European Championships, patriotic probation staff in Bolton supporting the England soccer team were told they could not display the St George's flag during working hours.

The probation service across Greater Manchester also banned employees from flying the English flag from their cars while visiting clients.

The action was taken by bosses after concerns were raised that the national emblem had been highjacked in the past by extreme political parties such as the British National Party.

Thousands of motorists, taxi drivers and homes across the borough have been flying the flag of St George for weeks in the lead-up to the World Cup which started last Friday.