Reform UK has said it will continue to fly county standards from council buildings, after saying “no other flags” than the Union and St George’s ones would be permitted.
The party took control of 10 local authorities in England at last week’s local elections, including Durham, Lancashire and Staffordshire.
Reform chairman Zia Yusuf had said on Monday that “Reform-controlled English councils will move at speed to resolve that the only flags permitted to be flown on or in its buildings will be the Union Jack and St George’s flag.”
Writing on X, he added: “No other flags will be permitted to be flown on its flagpoles, balconies, reception desks or council chamber walls.”
Reform controlled English councils will move at speed to resolve that the *only* flags permitted to be flown on or in its buildings will be the Union Jack and the St George’s flag.
— Zia Yusuf (@ZiaYusufUK) May 5, 2025
No other flags will be permitted to be flown on its flag-poles, balconies, reception desks or… pic.twitter.com/UngyJFgCh9
A Reform spokesman later said: “Reform UK will proudly fly the Union Jack, St George’s flag and county flags.
“Unlike the Tories and Labour, we are proud of our country and history.”
Labour and Conservative MPs had criticised the idea that county flags would not be allowed to fly.
Chris Webb, Labour MP for Blackpool South, said Reform was off to “a great start” by “banning” the Lancashire rose from flying. As of Friday, Reform controls Lancashire County Council.
Conservative MP for Hinckley and Bosworth Dr Luke Evans asked whether it meant “Leicestershire County Council would not be able to fly the Leicestershire county flag”.
The Tories lost control of Leicestershire County Council last week, with Reform now the largest party but falling short of an overall majority.
So let me get this straight...Leicestershire County Council would not be able to fly the Leicestershire County flag?
— Dr Luke Evans MP (@drlukeevans) May 5, 2025
Really? 🤔 https://t.co/bg35QwcTlf
Meanwhile, Labour MP Mike Tapp accused Reform of banning the Ukrainian flag from being flown, and called on the party to reverse the decision.
Mr Tapp, who has represented Dover and Deal since last July, said: “As VE Day reminds us, Britain has a proud history of working with allies to defeat dictators and tyrants.
“It tells you all you need to know about Nigel Farage’s Reform that their very first act after winning elections is to ban the Ukrainian flag from our town halls, in this of all weeks.”
He added: “Farage and Reform councillors should stop sucking up to Moscow and drop their ban on flying the Ukrainian flag immediately.”
Reform are to ban the flying of Ukrainian flags from public buildings.
— Mike Tapp MP (@MikeTappTweets) May 5, 2025
A gesture of solidarity we see across the whole country.
Shameful! And as VE Day approaches.
Putin’s puppets. pic.twitter.com/gjIZl3QFQc
Kent is one of the council areas Reform took control of at the local elections.
The party has laid out a number of proposals for councils it now runs since results were declared on Friday.
Reform leader Nigel Farage has vowed to “resist” asylum seekers being housed in the county council areas now under Reform control.
Asked how this will be possible because contracts are drawn up between the Home Office and accommodation providers, Mr Yusuf told the BBC the party will use “every instrument of power available”.
“Judicial reviews, injunctions, there’s planning laws,” he told the Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme.
