A senior Reform UK figure is demanding that the Ukrainian flag be taken down from outside Warwickshire County Council’s headquarters, newly released correspondence has revealed.
The row comes after previous disputes over the Progress Pride flag, which the party also wanted removed. Over the summer, three flags flew above the council offices in Warwick: the Progress Pride, the Ukrainian national flag, and the county banner.
While the rainbow emblem was lowered once Pride Month ended, the Ukrainian flag has remained in place ahead of a formal council vote this week.
Council leader Cllr George Finch has argued that only the Union Jack, the St George’s Cross, and the Warwickshire county flag should be flown, reflecting Reform’s national stance.
In his correspondence, released under the Freedom of Information Act, he wrote, “flag of our country and county are to be prioritised over flags of foreign countries and politically motivated symbols.”
Cllr Finch questioned why the Ukrainian flag should take precedent over the County Flag or Union Flag, and said requests to display other banners aside from royal or Armed Forces symbols should require approval from the council chair.
Nigel Farage also intervened in the dispute, accusing council chief executive Monica Fogarty of believing she knew better than the people and suggesting she should look for a new job.
Ms Fogarty, however, resisted calls to take down the Pride flag during June, insisting it had been raised annually for many years and did not require planning permission.
She reminded Cllr Finch that Reform UK policies do not automatically become policies of Warwickshire County Council and that any flag-flying rules must be decided by the council’s executive.
Warwickshire has been a strong supporter of Ukraine, welcoming refugees, fundraising for ambulances, and hosting an exhibition at the Queen’s Royal Hussars museum on the UK’s role in training Ukrainian forces under Operation Interflex.
Former Conservative councillor Cllr Heather Timms backed continuing this support, saying,
“I do believe as a country we should continue to show our support for Ukraine and flag raising is a very visible method of doing that.”
The council’s Cabinet is due to vote on the flag policy on Thursday. Officials note the outcome may influence other local authorities, with more councils looking to formalise their own flag-flying rules.
