Thread 22 Starmer - Running up to local elections

[BIossomtoes]

Here we go. Previous thread.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5305431-thread-21-starmer-casting-nasturtiums?page=40&reply=143731831

Ah, Reform, the party of Freedom. Unless they don't agree.

That is different to banning them

There is no need for a lot of things.

Good to see they are addressing the most pressing problems early.

I agree

Reflux may have said that it’s “banning” flags, and Sky’s reporting of it is no doubt faithful. But the truth is that they’re just choosing to fly certain flags only on buildings of councils they control. They can’t stop anyone else flying flags.

It’s not a “ban” at all. They have no powers to do so (apart from environmental regs about size and so on - but that’s really aimed at advertising hoardings).

They are choosing to use the words 'not permitting'

(It's in Zhia Yusuf's tweet)

Ofcourse details are not their strong points

That might be true, in a literal sense. Because permitted flags are generally one of the many domestic national or county ones, sports, clubs’ and the like.

But I doubt that any council has ever sent enforcement officers round to houses telling them to take down Ukrainian or Indian or Polish etc etc flags. I can see that some flags might create a public order issue - like flying the flag of Pakistan in an Indian neighbourhood - but that’s not really about flag flying, but about any provocative message.

There used to be a Brazilian flag hanging from a window in a road near me. It was kept lovely and clean and bright. I liked it.

Yusuf is talking about council buildings not individual houses

Yes, that was my point. It’s a choice to do that, not a “ban” or a matter of “permission” for what goes up their own flagpoles.

i think it’s accurate to say they want a ban on council staff flying any flags other than St George or Union Flag on council buildings. Seems a fair usage of the word ban to me.

Reflux did make me LOL.

Me too. Might steal that.

If they are going to ban foreign things, they ought to include language and food.

How good is their Latin and French?

Maybe, but doesn’t the council, i.e. the political forum, itself decide what flags to fly? I doubt if the (executive) social services or roads or planning departments make those choices. Happy to be wrong.

Thank you. I have now contributed “casting nasturtiums” and “Reflux”.

I will now go for a lie down until the next GE.

They mean stuff like this. Apart from the obvious, there is the county flag and Ukrainian flag, there.

No idea. But if they are stopping the flying of certain flags on poles for which they have political control I think ‘ban’ is a fair enough word. I ban my cat from my bedroom at night - nobody else has any say, but I don’t think that’s incorrect usage of the word ban.

Fair enough. I think the contexts are a little different though.

County flags will still be permitted.

They could just have stopped flying certain flags but where would be the fun in that.

'upsetting all the right people'

Only after it was pointed out to them that they exist.

Quite. One could readily argue that there is also no need for Union and St George Cross flags. After all, what useful purpose do they serve?

Honestly these people have got their priorities completely wrong.

But, but potholes!

If you cover them with flags, they don't exist