Reform UK has dismissed flag-fuelled outrage after Tory MPs fumed at Zia Yusuf's pledge for all county halls won by Nigel Farage on May 1 to only fly the Union Jack or cross of St George.
Yusuf, who confirmed to GB News that county flags will continue to fly on Reform-run council buildings, this morning declared that the 10 local authorities swept up by last week's turquoise tidal wave "will move at speed to resolve that the only flags permitted to be flown on or in its buildings will be the Union Jack and the St George's flag".
He added: "No other flags will be permitted to be flown on its flag-poles, balconies, reception desks or council-chamber walls."
A number of top Tories responded in fury, warning such a situation would also impact England's historic county flags.
Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf
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Ex-Security Minister Tom Tugendhat, who serves as the MP for Tonbridge in Kent, said: "The White Horse has been the symbol of Kent for almost two thousand 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."
Hinckley & Bosworth MP Dr Luke Evans added: "Let me get this straight, Leicestershire County Council would not be able to fly the Leicestershire county flag? Really?"
Ex-Net Zero Minister Graham Stuart also wrote: "Reform wants to ban Yorkshire councils from flying the Yorkshire flag. I guess the change they promised has started."
MPs from other parties also engaged in the row, with Reform's Liberal Democrat and Labour rivals pilling in.
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The flag row played out on social media
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Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate & Knaresborough Tom Gordon said: "If Reform UK’s chairman gets his way, Reform-run authorities would ban flying the Yorkshire flag - even on Yorkshire Day.
"Is that really what Reform stand for in Yorkshire? We should celebrate our proud identity and culture, not erase it."
Labour's Blackpool South MP Chris Webb added: "Reform UK have just announced they are banning the Lancashire Rose from being flown on council buildings."
Responding to the fury, Yusuf told GB News: "County flags will, of course, continue to be permitted."
A Reform UK source also dismissed the suggestion being peddled as "lies", confirming the party's chairman was mainly referencing national flags.
Zia Yusuf
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"They seem rather annoyed we’ll be flying the British flag instead of the trans flags their councils fly," the insider added.
Another source said: “The Tories seem more upset about Reform councils flying the Union flag than their councils flying the trans flag.
"It sums up the state of the Tory Party, the sooner they’re consigned the dustbin of history, the better.”
Responding to the row, a Reform UK spokesman added: “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.”
However, the row has also reignited Labour's attempts to link Reform UK to Russia.
UK Government buildings have flown the Ukrainian flag in solidarity with the ex-Soviet state since Russia mounted his invasion in February 2022.
As Reform's pledge threatens to remove the blue and yellow banner, Labour MP Mike Tapp said: "Reform are to ban the flying of Ukrainian flags from public buildings.
Flying the Union Jack proved controversialGETTY"A gesture of solidarity we see across the whole country. Shameful! And as VE Day approaches. Putin’s puppets."
Reform deputy leader Richard Tice replied with a series of water drop emojis before saying "drip, drip, drip" - adding: "Oh it's the Tapp again".
Following last week's Local Elections, Reform UK now controls 10 councils and is the largest party in three other local authority areas.
Reform UK snatched nine of its councils out of Tory hands, adding previously Labour-led Doncaster to its haul in one of Nigel Farage's most successful electoral campaigns to date.
In a torrid night for the Tories, the Liberal Democrats gained control of another three councils, while the remaining six fell into no overall control.
The row about flag-flying emerged after a number of incidents surrounding what banners have and have not been flown across county halls in the past few years.
The tiny Norfolk village of Claxton sparked outrage last summer after residents were at loggerheads about flying the Union Jack amid claims it has clear links with concerns about immigration.
