EU flag ‘virtually banned’ at Town Hall for Brexit anniversary in London

United Kingdom – Hide this flag so England can’t see it. This Friday, June 23, when it wanted to symbolize its opposition to Brexit, seven years from the day after the vote, London Town Hall could not stand the EU flag on its facade. At issue: regulations that now require special permission for official buildings in the UK – this one “True Obstacle” The banner condemns the city’s spokesperson.

The group of Labor Mayor Sadiq Khan, a longtime opponent of Brexit, wants to erect a blue banner with 12 gold stars to pay tribute to European residents in the British capital on the anniversary of the departure. of the United Kingdom of the European Union. “Europeans contribute a lot to our social and economic life and all we want is to show our gratitude with a small gesture one day a year”A municipal source explains Guardian.

But the town hall had to abandon its plan after it was told it was exposing itself to criminal activity. Since the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union on January 31, 2020, the European flag has actually been added to the list of flags requiring special authorization in England, Newham Local Council in London. established.

Sadiq Khan will still pay tribute to the EU

Conversely, in the UK no such authorization is required to display the flag of another country or the United Nations, sports clubs or LGBT+ colours.

“The mayor takes pride in flying flags at Town Hall, whether it’s the flag of England or more recently the flag of Ukraine.Explains the evidence provided by the interviewer Guardian. With more than a million Londoners coming from other European countries, it is unusual for the government to effectively ban the flying of the European flag without going through a lengthy bureaucratic process..

But Sadiq Khan has not given up on the idea of ​​marking the anniversary: ​​the town hall will finally be lit up in yellow and blue in the evening.

In 2016 59.9% of Londoners voted against Brexit, compared to 69.7% in the capital. Far from winning the national results and the camp let go ” So.

The Department for Equal Opportunities, Housing and Communities declined to answer questions Guardian.

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