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Council removes Pride flag after Reform challenge

Phil ShepkaCambridgeshire political reporter
News imagePA Media General image of a Progress Pride flag being flownPA Media
The Progress Pride flag had been flown at Huntingdonshire District Council's Pathfinder House

A Progress Pride flag was removed from a council building after a challenge from Reform UK revealed it should have had planning permission before being put up.

This type of Pride flag includes black, brown, pink, pale blue and white stripes, to represent marginalised people of colour in the LGBTQ+ community, as well as the trans community, and those living with HIV/AIDS.

Huntingdonshire District Council said a "discussion with Reform group leader, [Ryan] Coogan prompted us to investigate the planning permission issue" and the flag is currently not being flown from Pathfinder House - the council's main office in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.

Coogan said that "councils should be cautious about displaying flags that some residents may regard as ideological or political".

The Pride flag is a symbol of the LGBTQ+ community, and its colours represent the different groups within it; over recent years it has been updated with other versions, including the Progress Pride flag.

The council told the BBC that while the Pride flag is covered by what is known as deemed consent under planning regulations, "the Pride Progress flag is not covered by this provision and therefore requires express consent from the local planning authority".

It said that the Pride Progress flag had been displayed at Pathfinder House in June but was taken down to make way for the Armed Forces Day flag on 27 June.

"At that point, it came to our attention that the council does not currently have the necessary permissions in place to fly certain flags," a spokesperson for the council said.

Coogan, whose party is the third-largest at the council, said "public buildings should represent everyone and that the Union Flag is the flag that unites the country".

He added that "councils should not fly divisive political symbols, particularly where the correct permission has not been obtained".

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