Reform UK’s fresh batch of local representatives are busily bedding into their new offices across the country.
And as Nigel Farage’s teal troops descend on England’s town halls, Westminster is steadily adjusting to the new political reality precipitated by the local elections. The Labour and Conservative parties are still reeling — reckoning with respective backlashes on policy and political strategy.
Soaking in the media spotlight, Reform spokespeople have spent recent days doubling down on their party’s political positions, declaring unto Britain the change they plan to oversee.
Thus far, Reform representatives have emphasised the performative elements of their offering. In a social media post on Monday, chair Zia Yusuf — credited with his party’s auspicious professionalisation drive — unveiled Reform’s flag-flying policy.
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Reform, the scourge of “woke” from Doncaster to Kent, will ensure that “the only flags permitted to be flown on or in [council] buildings will be the Union Jack and the St George’s flag.”
Yusuf added: “No other flags will be permitted to be flown on its flag-poles, balconies, reception desks or council-chamber walls.”
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Reform controls 10 councils in England, including Kent, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire and Doncaster after its sweeping gains last week. But already its flag policy has come under concerted fire from across the political spectrum.
Mike Tapp, the outspoken Labour MP for Dover and Deal, responded: “As VE Day reminds us, Britain has a proud history of working with allies to defeat dictators and tyrants.
“It tells you all you need to know about Nigel Farage’s Reform that their very first act after winning elections is to ban the Ukrainian flag from our town halls, in this of all weeks.”
He added: “Farage and Reform councillors should stop sucking up to Moscow and drop their ban on flying the Ukrainian flag immediately.”
Tom Tugendhat, the former security minister and Conservative leadership candidate, said: “The White Horse has been the symbol of Kent for almost 2,000 years.
“The first king of Kent, Hengest, is said to have used the flag as he and his brother, Horsa, conquered their new kingdom. Denying our flag is denying our history.”
Mark Francois, the shadow Armed Forces minister, said: “Flags are important symbols and should be respected as such. So, does this new policy mean no flying of Ukrainian flags, in solidarity with them?
“Does it mean councils couldn’t fly the Armed Forces day flag, either? And what about county flags, too? This sounds like something which just hasn’t been thought through.”
The backlash prompted a clarification: “Reform UK will proudly fly the union jack, St George’s flag and county flags. Unlike the Tories and Labour, we are proud of our country and history”, a party spokesperson commented on Monday afternoon.
Reform’s policy is pitched against “woke” flags — pulling on the same (US-influenced) political strain as its opposition to “DEI” (diversity, equity and inclusion) practices. In a similar vein, Farage took aim at “climate change training” this morning.
But Reform’s above clarification still excludes the Ukraine flag, which councils have flown in solidarity with the country after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.
Reform’s position on the Ukraine war is an evidenced, long-term political vulnerability. During the 2024 general election campaign, Reform’s momentum was knocked by comments Farage made suggesting the West “provoked” Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by expanding the European Union and NATO military alliance eastwards.
This discourse, at best, distracted from Reform’s central election pitch and, at worst, repelled potential voters.
Labour, via a variety of spokespeople and glossy social media graphics in recent months, has repeatedly criticised Reform for “fawning” over Putin. So expect the party to lampoon Reform’s “Ukraine flag ban” in the coming weeks — as it looks to drive a wedge between the party and its target voters.
The future of British politics will not turn on the axis of Reform’s flag policy. That much is plain. Policy progress will dictate this government’s fate. But this row exposes chinks in Farage’s armour, even as he enjoys this moment of ascendancy.
Lunchtime briefing
Conservative MPs looking to oust Badenoch are ‘deluded’, says Iain Duncan Smith
Lunchtime soundbite
‘If you end up just being the managers of the status quo and the status quo isn’t working for people, they’re going to put you out.’
— Former prime minister Sir Tony Blair speaks at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles.
Now try this…
‘Come back, Boris? Routed Tories pine for a winning formula’
Dire local election results leave some Conservatives wondering if their former leader’s magic could turn things around, Politico’s Noah Keate writes.
‘Labour must be relevant to people’s everyday lives and offer realistic hope’
Former Labour leader Lord Kinnock writes for the Mirror.
‘Tory MPs to meet to discuss ousting Kemi Badenoch “before it is too late”’
The Independent reports.
On this day in 2022:
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