Political Row Leaves Voters Flagging
Parties exchange blows over hoisting of Ukrainian flag at County Hall
It has not taken long for the new political administration at County Hall to be engulfed by a good old-fashioned row.
Not a row about pressing issues like the state of the authority’s finances and the possibility of job cuts; not a row about how to deal with escalating demands for adult social care, and not about a row over the disproportionate burden of child asylum seekers.
And not a row over the state of our roads.
No, the dispute that has probably run its course by now - or at least should have - has centred on flags.
More specifically, a row has been triggered by an argument about whether County Hall should continue to fly the Ukrainian flag in a gesture of solidarity with the war-torn country.
The new Reform Party leader has been robust in saying that in her view, nothing is to be gained from continuing to fly the flag, saying: “We are here to represent the people of Kent. This is Kent County Council…a foreign war being fought thousands of miles away is simply a distraction.” Not the kind of thing you would have heard from PM Margaret Thatcher, who was firm in seeking to repel Argentinian forces from the Falklands.
Council leader Cllr Linden Kemkaran paid tribute to the Ukrainian people, saying they are “amazing” and have made a contribution to British society, but added “a flag doesn’t change any of that”.
And to be fair, it probably does not change much, but that has never been the point. Who would even be exercised by the issue of whether it is right or wrong had not the Reform Party ventilated its proposed ban on all flags during the council elections?
There has been an entirely predictable backlash over the move to remove the flag from the council chamber, which shows the hazards of populist politics.
It is doubtful that the issue is of greater concern than some of the challenges the authority will face in the coming months and equally doubtful that voters will see much to be gained from either continuing to have it on show in the council chamber or taking it down.
REVEALED! KCC’s flags ‘protocol’
IT seems bizarre to, er, flag up that Kent County Council has a “flag protocol”, a rather bureaucratic document that sets out when flags should be flown.
The protocol hasn’t received much attention - if any - and it’s not what you’d call compulsive reading.
For those interested in what it says, it reveals there are no less than 18 special “days” when the Union flag can be hoisted. Some of these special days need reviewing
It is up to the council to choose whether to fly the Union or not. These include May 9, which is Europe Day and an occasion where the Union Flag should fly alongside the European Flag.
As to other special days, the protocol is that - take a deep breath - “formal visits by other authorities or royal visitors – the Union and Kentish Flag…be displayed at full mast together with the flag of the visiting authority and/or the royal visitor (if appropriate).”
There are special arrangements for St George’s Day, when The Cross of St George is to be flown at full mast from 8am until sunset.
Given that it appears that it has been some time since the protocol was reviewed, maybe now the time is right for a second look. Or maybe not. There are plenty of other pressing issues facing the county council. This isn’t one.
Question of the week:
Which political figure in Kent once professed they were in love with their oven and would be bereft without it?
The new leader of Kent County Council, Linden Kemkaran, who in a magazine article under her name declared her passion for her Aga oven.
The article in the Spectator magazine revealed that she “never thought it would be possible to feel such emotion about a lump of hot metal, but I am in love and like all new passions it’s threatening to become all-consuming.”
The object of her passion was her Aga oven, an iconic kitchen appliance which is at the top end when it comes to costs - one model costs in the region of £6,5050.
Still, she is in good company: Former Labour leader Ed Miliband revealed in an interview he had two kitchens in his home but only used one, explaining to his interviewer that the smaller one was used chiefly around Christmas when they had large family gatherings.
Let’s hope tending to the Aga isn’t too all-consuming. Running the county council is a big enough job as it is.