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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Caroline Davies

‘Beyond ironic’: Reform-led council says flags must come down so Christmas lights can go up

A flag of St George attached to a lamp-post
Harrietsham parish council has appealed to those who put flags up to take them down, saying it is not permitted to do so itself. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian

A Reform-led council has ruled that union and St George’s flags must come down in order for a village’s traditional Christmas lights to go ahead, in a decision described as “beyond ironic”.

Kent county council – whose leader once vowed not to remove flags put up “unilaterally by the people of Kent” – told Harrietsham parish council that flags must come down from street lights before festive lights could go up because of safety concerns.

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