EXCLUSIVE: In a rare outbreak of patriotism and passion, there appears to be a council leader willing to apply some common sense.
OPINION
Westminster City Council leader Paul Swaddle (Image: Daily Express)
Westminster Council leader hoists England flag over City Hall
Westminster Council leader hoists England flag over City Hall
You might have heard there’s a game of football on tonight.
For most of them patriotism and passion are dirty words.
It is a toe-curling own goal – especially during the World Cup – yet hardly surprising.
He is a Liberal Democrat, or meant to be, but happily blew taxpayers’ money proscribing England’s most recognisable icon – its national flag – just as its national football team bids for immortality. The pettiness is hard to comprehend.
Thank goodness then for a man who has no such reservations. Quite the opposite in fact.
Paul Swaddle, the Tory leader of Westminster City Council, has happily whipped out his flag and not only hoisted it on council buildings in the capital, he has actively encouraged others to do the same.
It is a rare outbreak of common sense that shows there are still some who refuse to subscribe to the weak argument put forward by the soft-centered and easily offended that doing so is just filthy plastic patriotism.
Councillor Swaddle is getting into the spirit and good on him.
As a nation holds its breath and crosses its fingers that England delivers the goods he said: “I’ve ensured that our building is flying the St George flag as England prepare for their titanic quarter final clash with Norway. We’re proud to fly the flag and get behind the three lions. Good luck to Harry, Jude and the rest of the boys. It would be great to see as many people as possible across Westminster flying the St George’s cross.”
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England captain Harry Kane (Image: Getty)
The patriotic fervour sweeping the nation is not isolated to football but represents a much deeper pride.
Do gooders interpret that as the rise of nasty national sentiment, missing the point entirely.
It is why snooty Bearder, a former BBC journalist who runs a film and production company specialising in social and political campaigns including the legalisation of medical cannabis, turns his nose up at those who proudly fly the flag.
Many will find it perverse, perhaps even a dereliction of duty, that he, like so many of the hand-wringers and pearl clutchers occupying positions of power, care less about the state of the roads or essential services like social care or bin collections, but is so appalled that anyone would want to display pride in their country he’s prepared to blow YOUR money to stop them.
After his victory at the Royal Courts of Justice the town hall tyrant said: “We’ve secured the first ever injunction [of its kind] in the country and this will serve as a blueprint for other councils wishing to stop this irresponsible behaviour.”
Curiously he is also the son of Cathrine Bearder, who served as a Member of the European Parliament for South East England from 2009 until 2020 when the UK left the EU.
She cried foul when Oxford City Council told her to remove the European flag from outside her home in 2024.
The blue and yellow standard had been “proudly” hoisted to celebrate Europe Day and the politician had the nerve to say the council should be prioritising other matters over the policing of flags.
For the easily offended like the Beaders flying the St George and Union flags are acts of division.
Obtaining a court injunction to put a stop to those who want to is, in itself, surely the very stance it objects to.
Many will think Bearder’s actions are an appalling waste of taxpayers’ money and council time.
And, actually, it is not a position shared by the vast majority of the country who, fortunately, are not so petulant or prickly.
Tory Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake told Bearder and his two-bob council to “get off their virtue-signalling high horse”, adding: “We should be unashamedly proud of our national identity. The Union Jack and the Flag of St George both unite our nation. It is shameful the Liberal Democrats are turning their backs on these important symbols. People should be encouraged to show their patriotism, not lectured out of it.”
And former football manager Harry Redknapp weighed in with some advice to paper-shufflers like Bearder, saying: “What is wrong with these people? Fly your flags, be proud of your country. Don’t be ashamed.”
So well played Cllr Swaddle. Yours is a man-of-the-match performance.