Former MEP will continue flying European flag after feedback

Catherine Bearder received a letter from the council telling her to take down the flag

A former MEP has refused a city council's demand to remove a European flag from outside her home.

Catherine Bearder has proudly displayed the flag since Europe Day on 9 May at her property in Cowley, Oxford.

Oxford City Council said the European Union flag required planning consent following post-Brexit legislation.

Ms Bearder said she has now told the authority she is flying the flag of the Council of Europe, which is identical and does not require consent.

She served as a Member of the European Parliament for South East England from 2009 until 2020 when the UK left the European Union (EU).

Following the UK's departure from the European Union, the flag of the European Union is no longer included in the list of flags that do not require consent.

Ms Bearder said she was flying the flag of the Council of Europe, "which coincidentally is identical to the EU flag"

The letter sent to Ms Bearder from the council, and seen by the BBC, said: "I am writing because Oxford City Council has received a query about the European flag being flown at the above property.

"The control of flying the flags is governed by the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007."

It added: "As such, I must ask that the flag be removed until such a time that advertisement consent is granted to fly it."

Previously, she said she planned to replace it with the Ukrainian flag, which had hung there before.

However, in a letter to the council, which she posted on her X account, Ms Bearder said the flag she was flying was the flag of the Council of Europe, "which coincidentally is identical to the EU flag".

She wrote: "You say the European flag is not listed as one which may be flown without consent, however I understand that it is permitted to fly 'a flag of the Commonwealth or the United Nations, or any other international organisation of which the UK is a member'.

"I am sure you know that we are still a full member of the Council of Europe, which I am also sure you realise has nothing to do with the EU."

Ms Bearder concluded her letter saying: "I will continue to fly the CoE flag from the front of my premises."

The city council has been contacted for a comment.

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