A Conservative councillor has breached the code of conduct over Union Flag bunting displayed in a council office, and by republishing a controversial story regarding the bunting and political imagery displayed in a Tory group's chamber.
The saga began when a former council monitoring officer, Bryn Roberts, requested Conservative councillors remove the Union Flag bunting and images of Margaret Thatcher and Winston Churchill from their group room at the North Tyneside Council's HQ. Concerns were raised the imagery could be seen by the Newcastle-upon-Tyne public and that the council's building should be a "politically neutral venue".
While Coun Bones denied the images could be seen by the public. Mr Roberts acknowledged a Union Flag had always flown outside the council offices, but he was concerned when the flag was used "as part of a political display".
