00:00Speaking at a full Council meeting, Councillor Christine Taylor, a veteran and representative
00:05for Bedlington said she is proud to fly the Union flag, particularly in recognition of
00:10military service. However, she expressed concern that the appearance of flags on every single
00:16lamppost in her town is sparking tension.
00:20Within Bedlington we have a flagpole and we are very proud to fly the Union flag, she
00:24told Council Leader Glenn Sanderson, but not everybody needs to see a flag on every lamppost.
00:30I get the sentiment, but I would like to see the flag flown proudly from the town's flagpole,
00:35not all over the place.
00:37Councillor Taylor's comments come amid a growing national trend known as raise the flag. While
00:43some view the campaign as a patriotic display, others have raised concerns over links to
00:47far-right groups and the potential for it to intimidate or exclude members of more diverse
00:53communities. Responding to Councillor Taylor's concerns, Council Leader Glenn Sanderson said
00:58the County Council continues to fly the Union flag with pride. However, he acknowledged that
01:03there are limits. Where displays cause an issue, we will take them down, especially if they
01:08pose an obstruction, he said. We owe a huge debt to those who put their lives on the line
01:13for freedom, and that includes freedom of speech. But if flags are being used in a way that causes
01:18division, that becomes a matter for the police. Councillor Sanderson added that local communities
01:24should decide how and where flags are flown, suggesting that the council may ask towns and
01:29parish authorities whether they would like official flagpoles installed in each area. That
01:34way it becomes a decision made together as one community, he said. Let's work together,
01:40and respect each other's views.
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