Reform UK’s Joseph Boam hits back at ‘snowflake’ council workers who claim patriotic flag policy makes them feel ‘unsafe’
Council staff member says they’re ‘back in the closet’ after Pride and disability flags banned from automatic display
New policy rushed through in cabinet meeting lasting fewer than SEVEN MINUTES with no discussion
Leader Dan Harrison tells worried LGBT+ staff: ‘If they want to fly flags, they can do so at home’
A Reform UK councillor has launched a furious defence of his party’s controversial new flag policy after staff at Leicestershire County Council claimed flying the Union Jack made them feel “unsafe.
Joseph Boam, Reform UK Chairman of North West Leicestershire, hit back at the complaints with a scathing social media post, writing: “Apparently flying the Union Flag and St George’s Flag is now ‘unsafe’ and ‘unwelcome?’ We’ve brought in a simple, common sense policy: Official buildings, Official flags. That’s it. Let’s crack on.”
The explosive row erupted after Reform UK’s new administration rushed through a dramatic change to flag-flying rules in a cabinet meeting that lasted fewer than seven minutes – with no discussion between members about the controversial changes.
LGBT+ STAFF ‘BACK IN THE CLOSET’
Under the new policy, the Union flag and county flag will fly permanently from two of three poles at County Hall in Glenfield, with the third pole displaying either the St George’s flag or the Lord Lieutenant’s flag when present on official duties.
A fourth pole will mark events including Armed Forces Day, Commonwealth Days and Armistice Day – but crucially, decisions about flying other banners, including the rainbow flag during Pride month and the disabled people’s flag during Disability History Month, will now require special approval from the chief executive following consultation with the council leader.
One staff member, speaking anonymously due to fear of reprisals, said the changes had left them feeling like they were “back in the closet.
“This is a sign that I am ‘different’ and my family is ‘different’. We can get on with our lives, but we need to keep it to ourselves,” they revealed.
‘IT’S NOT SAFE TO BE YOURSELF’
The anonymous employee continued with a damning assessment of the new regime: “I joined the council because I could be myself at work and not spend energy on hiding parts of myself and my family. It meant I could focus on my job and do my best for the people of Leicestershire.
“By not flying the rainbow flag, the council is saying: ‘It’s not safe to be yourself, you’re not welcome here.'”
The policy shift has prompted serious concerns amongst council employees, particularly those from LGBT+, disability, and BAME communities, who fear their flags will no longer be displayed at all under the new discretionary system.
LEADER’S DEFIANT RESPONSE
Council leader Dan Harrison was unrepentant when questioned about the controversial policy, explaining that there had been “so many flags flown throughout the year” which is what they wanted to avoid.
In a statement likely to inflame tensions further, Harrison insisted the staff are safe in this environment, and dismissively added: “If they wanted to fly flags, they could do so at home.
When pressed by reporters on how potentially not flying certain flags “benefits the public”, Harrison curtly replied: “Well, it does.
SEVEN-MINUTE RUBBER STAMP
The extraordinary speed with which the policy was approved has raised eyebrows across the political spectrum. Reform UK called a special cabinet meeting at short notice specifically to push through the flag changes, despite another regular cabinet meeting being scheduled just five days later.
The meeting on Thursday June 12 lasted less than seven minutes and involved no discussion on the changes between new cabinet members – effectively rubber-stamping a decision that has left staff feeling marginalised.
New Green councillor Naomi Bottomley slammed the process: “I am so disappointed that the Reform cabinet have decided to waste time and resources holding this meeting – which doesn’t solve or even attempt to address any of the issues facing residents in Leicestershire.
REFORM’S DRAMATIC TAKEOVER
The flag controversy marks the first major policy decision since Reform UK seized control of Leicestershire County Council in May’s local elections, securing 25 of the 55 seats available.
The Conservatives, who had led the council for more than two decades, suffered a dramatic collapse, falling from 42 seats in 2021 to just 15.
Reform’s victory in Leicestershire represents one of the party’s most significant electoral breakthroughs, giving them their first opportunity to implement their policies at a council level.
COST OF CONTROVERSY
Questions have been raised about the cost of calling the special meeting, with council officers spending “around a couple of hours” preparing, plus additional time for the chief executive and other officials to attend.
When challenged about why the policy couldn’t wait for the scheduled meeting five days later, Harrison was defiant: “We’re not doing anything wrong, and it would have been the same result if we waited a week, a fortnight, six months. It was our decision to go now and to deal with this as we have done. That’s democracy… Every government comes in and they change things.”
PREVIOUS FLAG ROWS
The controversy follows earlier confusion when former Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf initially said only Union and St George’s flags would be allowed on Reform-run council buildings – prompting fears that even Leicestershire’s own county flag would be banned.
Reform later updated its stance to allow county banners after a backlash, but Yusuf resigned from his position shortly afterwards.
NATIONAL IMPLICATIONS
The Leicestershire flag row could have wider implications for Reform UK as it seeks to expand its influence across other councils. The party’s uncompromising stance on “official buildings, official flags” may appeal to its traditional voter base but risks alienating council staff and minority communities.
As one political observer noted: “This is Reform UK’s first real test of governance. How they handle this controversy will be watched closely by voters considering backing them elsewhere.
With staff morale plummeting and accusations of creating an “unsafe” environment flying, Reform UK’s common-sense revolution appears to have hit turbulence before it’s even properly taken off.
“View of Pride flags being flown in the Pride parade on Pall Mall #12” — by Robert Lamb, taken 7 July 2018 near City of Westminster, London, England, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution–ShareAlike 2.0 (CC BY‑SA 2.0) – https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by‑sa/2.0
