'Removal of Ukrainian flag is deeply troubling'

Labour MP Matt Western said his concerns were not about protocol - but about principle

A Labour MP has called Warwickshire County Council's removal of the Ukrainian flag from its headquarters "deeply troubling",

Matt Western, Labour MP for Warwick and Leamington, took to social media to make comments on the Reform UK-led council's new flag rule.

The policy, which bans all flags apart from the union jack, St George's and Warwickshire County flags, came into place after a row over a Progress Pride Flag outside the authority's Shire Hall office in Warwick during Pride Month in June.

Western wrote on Facebook that his concerns about the removal of the Ukrainian flag was not about protocol - but about principle. The BBC has contacted Warwickshire County Council and its leader.

Councillor George Finch had asked for the Progress Pride Flag to be removed when he was elected as leader of the council, but chief executive Monica Fogarty - who previously held responsibility for deciding which flags could be flown - refused.

The council's cabinet voted to hand the decision-making power to the council chairman, Reform councillor Edward Harris last month.

Western wrote on Wednesday: "It's a pattern that speaks volumes.

"Since Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, over 950 Ukrainian families have found refuge in Warwickshire through the Homes for Ukrainians scheme.

"Flying the Ukrainian flag was a simple, powerful act of solidarity with those who've fled war and with those still fighting for freedom.

"Ukraine is still at war. Russia started it. And Reform UK's decision to remove the flag sends entirely the wrong message, not just to Ukrainians, but to all of us who believe in compassion, inclusion, and standing up to tyranny."

Western called council leader Finch's approach to leadership "tone-deaf", adding that the country deserved better than "divisive and regressive politics".

He added: "I urge the County Council to reverse this decision and fly the Ukrainian flag once again."

Speaking about the new flag policy during the cabinet meeting on 4 September, Finch said: "This county, everyone that's in it, is identified by three things - The United Kingdom, England and our county."

The BBC has contacted George Finch and Warwickshire County Council for comment.