A HEATED debate ended in the Pride flag being banned from flying over Barnsley Town Hall yesterday with Reform’s deputy leader claiming they are stopping ‘woke ideology’ from being ‘rammed down people’s throats’.
At yesterday’s meeting, a motion about flags was put forward by deputy leader Coun Edward Dillingham and Luke Wheat.
The policy will only allow three flags the Union Flag, St George’s Cross and Barnsley Council’s to be flown at all times, while others such as the armed forces’ display may also be put up at set times.
Coun Dillingham told the meeting that the new policy protects the dignity of the town hall and is ‘common sense’.
He said: “This is not a trivial debate about bits of coloured cloth it is about whether Barnsley Town Hall is to be treated with the dignity and consistency it deserves.
“Or whether it will remain a political free-for-all where the loudest ideology or fad wins.
“There will be no more ad-hoc decisions, turning our town hall into a billboard about whatever cause a minority shouts about that month.
“It simply says our town hall is not a free advertising space for every pressure group or is to be used to draw attention to whatever woke, special interest is being pushed on us at that time.
“The people of Barnsley elected us to do it.
“They are fed up with the woke ideology being rammed down their throats especially the throats of their children and grandchildren.
“The real obsession is the endless parade of special interest flags while our Union Flag and St George’s Cross are cast aside in case they might hurt somebody’s feelings.
“Well that era ends with this policy.
“To those who will scream transphobe, bigot or whatever other ‘phobe’ you want to chuck at us, this motion has nothing to do with any one person or group.
“It protects the dignity of our town hall and puts the people of Barnsley back in charge of their own civic symbols.”
An amendment was put forward by the Labour group and Coun James Higginbottom, seeking to add the Pride flag and the national flags of Barnsley’s twin towns of Schwabisch Gmund and Gorlovka.
This amendment was shot down by Reform.
Coun Higginbottom said: “The reaction to the original decision not to fly the Pride flag at the start of last month speaks for itself.
“Why was one of the first acts of an incoming council administration, rather than to focus on delivering services or implementing their manifesto, to prevent a display of diversity and inclusivity above the town hall?
“In a world where that sense of acceptance and belonging feels more fragile than it has in a very long time I think that it remains something worth holding on to.
“That is what this amendment does a simple act of celebration, but one that ripples right across Barnsley.”
Coun Wheat, an openly gay man, told the meeting that many feel the Pride flag has been ‘hijacked’.
He said: “As a gay man I understand the struggles that led to the Pride flag becoming an important symbol.
“However, it now feels increasingly weaponised and diluted, representing so many different causes that its original meaning has been lost.( “Rather than uniting people, it is too often used to divide them.
“I believe progress comes from bringing people together, not from turning symbols into political weapons.”
