A planning application showing what the building will look like
(Picture: HMRC/ AECOM)Here’s a sentence we didn’t expect to write: The government has been comprehensively rinsed after unveiling plans to slap an eight-storey Union Flag on a building in Cardiff.
Every day we fall further into the dungeons of post-irony. When will our salvation be?
The 32-metre flag is to be placed on the corner windows of an HMRC building in the capital as part of the government’s drive for the UK to have more flags, an important hill to die on.
But people obviously took the p*ss upon learning about this plan:
Welsh First Minister: the union is at risk unless devolved territories feel listened to and respected
— Techpriest (@techpriest) June 30, 2021
UK government: Giant Union Jack in the Welsh capital. MORE FLAGS!
*facepalm* https://t.co/UGVSkXGdC9
They are going to be awfully embarrassed hauling it back to England on the motorway after Wales, ups sticks from the Union in a decade. https://t.co/lzpWIUh6FE
— John Smith (son of Harry Leslie Smith) (@Harryslaststand) June 30, 2021
Too big to shag though https://t.co/DwHmZ75zLk
— Phoenix CS Andrews 🏳️⚧️ (@pennyb) June 30, 2021
Replace it with "england does not have an impotence issue" https://t.co/J4s6fa4RO0
— Dr Ben Janaway (@drjanaway) June 30, 2021
https://t.co/25llI2Ukou pic.twitter.com/R3yNC7Lqo5
— Han *staysafe-toriesout*💙🌹💚✊🌍 (@han2thet) June 30, 2021
As we say, the government has been driving for the UK to celebrate the flag more. If this has passed you by, then lucky you, but let’s change that because we are all in this together.
In March, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said government buildings will fly the flag every day rather than on special occasions like the Queen’s birthday. He said the flag is “a proud reminder of our history and the ties that bind us”.
Then, we found out that the Department for Transport spent £700 on four Union flags in December, to be placed at their headquarters. Money well spent.
A Conservative Party MP called for it to be mandatory to fly Union flags at all UK schools, other Conservatives wanted it to be printed on vials of the Oxford vaccine and some MPs have been asked to remove them from council offices. Phew.
At every occasion, they have been laughed at, criticised, mocked and jeered at. But the flag brigade have held on tight in the face of adversity and continued flying the flags for flags, for Britain’s sake.
In a statement issues to the press about this absolute duvet of a flag in Wales, a UK Government spokesperson said: “Ty William Morgan is a significant UK Government building and is the first of its kind in Wales.
“As is practice with similar UK Government sites across the United Kingdom and around the world, it will feature the Union flag as part of its visual branding.
“The flag of Wales is flown at Ty William Morgan which also contains other specifically Welsh branding, while the name of the new building was chosen to reflect the UK Government’s investment in Wales and Welsh culture.”
But this did not quell the anger of Welsh Labour politicians who thought it was absolutely ridiculous:
I honestly don’t think they understand https://t.co/g6KndISeHb
— Lee Waters MS (@Amanwy) June 30, 2021
Someone’s feeling a little insecure…
— Alun Davies AS / MS 🏴 (@AlunDaviesMS) June 30, 2021
I am now utterly convinced that Simon Hart is a deep agent and is being paid by Plaid, the SNP and Sinn Fein. https://t.co/P04aPPmezH
Last week, the Presiding Officer of the Welsh Senedd got annoyed with Tory members bringing flags to Zoom meetings.
Elin Jones said: “Therefore, from next week, no more flags. Otherwise, I’ll be tempted to fly the flag of the Independent Tropical Republic of Ceredigion behind me here. So, we move on to a flagless week next week please.”
Who’s going to tell her about the 32-metre flag in Cardiff, then?
