The UK Government announced on Wednesday the Union flag will be flown on all government buildings every day in a bid to unite the nation. At present, Union flags are only required to be flown on UK Government buildings on designated days, but the new guidance from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport will ask for it to be flown all the time in England, Scotland and Wales.
The move was praised by French leader of Les Patriotes, Florian Philippot, who urged France to follow suit and leave the European Union as soon as possible.
The Frexit campaigner hailed the British decision, adding: “The British flag will now fly permanently on all official buildings in the country!
“The country comes back to life with Brexit! While we fade away with the EU.
“Let us show the same national pride, so legitimate: Frexit quickly, vital!”
Government ministers said the changes would be a “proud reminder of our history and the ties that bind us”.
Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick has written to all councils in England in a bid to encourage them to fly the flag on their buildings.
The move will also allow dual flagging – where two flags can be flown on one pole.
It will not affect buildings in Northern Ireland, where Union flag flying is covered by separate legislation.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “The Union flag unites us as a nation and people rightly expect it to be flown above UK Government buildings.
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But not everyone in the country was particularly happy about the decision.
Asked on Wednesday if the Union flag should be more prominent around Wales, Welsh Secretary Simon Hart said: “I think the Union flag is an iconic brand.
“I don’t think we should ever use it for political purposes, though.
“I think that would be a strange thing to do, sort of try and make a political point out of it.
“It is the flag in the UK.
“I think it’s recognised across the world as such and respected across the world as such, just as the Welsh flag is probably as prominent and as a relevant brand in itself.
“I’ve never thought of flags being part of political weaponry, I don’t think they should be.
“My view about the union is it isn’t a political party, and we shouldn’t politicise the union.”
