125,000+ dead from COVID. Minister Dowden: put up more flags
In yet another cheap shot in the Tory Culture wars, Minister Oliver Dowden, who is doing an increasingly good impression of being a complete idiot, backed up by hard right Tory MP John Hayes, has decreed that the Union Jack must be flown on Government buildings not just on appropriate occasions but every day.
Dowden claims it will be a ‘proud reminder’ of Britain’s history. Many will agree with him provided the word ‘proud’ is deleted.
Of course the actual result will be that most flags will be flown the wrong way up. The Government guidelines (this has no force in law) suggests a high level of union jack anorakism, possibly because they were drawn up by someone checking the internet in their bedroom:
Where UK Government buildings have more than one flagpole, and two flags are being flown, the Union Flag must always be flown in the superior position which is either:
the highest flagpole
the centre flagpole where there is an odd number of poles of the same height or;
the left centre flagpole viewed from the front of the building, where there is an even number of poles of the same height.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/designated-days-for-union-flag-flying
Aside from support from the Tory backbenches Dowden will one expects be able to rely on the support of at least one senior Opposition MP.
BBC Report
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