Freedom to fly flags

Eric Pickles MP unveils his proposals at the Flag Institute
Spring Meeting, 2011

The Flag Institute has issued its official response to the relaxation of UK flag regulations announced by the Department for Communities and Local Government on 20 September 2012.

The United Kingdom is unique

The UK is perhaps unique among modern democracies for its relative lack of flag-related laws.

What is even more unusual is that those few regulations which do exist have often seemed designed to stop ordinary people from flying flags.

Stories have been commonplace in the British press as frustrated flag fans have fallen foul of outdated and poorly drafted regulations.

The Flag Institute therefore welcomes today’s relaxation of flag flying regulations.

Following the Diamond Jubilee and the most remarkable Olympics of the modern era, the announcement fits perfectly with the nation’s mood.

The Flag Institute: The UK’s national vexillological organisation

However the plan was born in 2011, when Mr Pickles announced his flag review during a passionate and well-received speech to the Flag Institute Spring Meeting.

‘The UK is very lucky in having – in the Institute – a group of dedicated and informed people who do a great deal to make sure that that respect is given [to flags]’, he told delegates and flag experts from around the world.

In order to implement his plans, he further expressed the hope that his department would have ‘the chance of continuing to talk with [the Institute] over the months to come’.

Working together

Led by Flag Institute CEO Charles Ashburner, a team of the UK’s top flag experts has since worked closely with the Department of Communities and Local Government.

Together they have devoted many hundreds of hours free of charge to the nation’s flag cause.

Malcolm Farrow, President of the Flag Institute, said:

I congratulate the Secretary of State for resolving a long standing problem about flying flags in our country and am delighted that the new flag flying regulations have been published. I am extremely proud of the way in which the Flag Institute has helped in this process. This is a very good development indeed.

What are the important changes?

Graham Bartram, the UK‘s Chief Vexillologist said:

I welcome these changes which will give people greater freedom to fly the flags they want, without the need to apply for planning permission.
 
From now on we can fly the flags of any island, county, district, borough, burgh, parish, city, town or village of the United Kingdom, the Crown Dependencies, the British Overseas Territories and the various flags of the Armed Forces. At long last sports supporters can fly the flag of their favourite team without being threatened with a fine. The changes also include measures that make it easier to install flagpoles on or next to a building, with appropriate safeguards for conservation zones and other places of special interest.
 
Hopefully the next few years will see more flags flying in our communities, adding colour and movement to the built environment.

Freedom to fly flags

Charles Ashburner, Chief Executive of the Flag Institute, said:

Flags are important to all UK societies and social groups. They are emotive symbols of unity, sport, protest, and patriotism. In our super fast world of instant news and ever changing technology flags remain the ultimate symbol of identity. I therefore welcome Mr Pickles’ changes as the most significant shake-up of flag regulations in a generation.
 
The relaxation of flag flying regulations is something which everyone who believes in freedom of expression should support. This really is a new Freedom to Fly Flags.

The Flag Institute is a thriving membership-based flag organisation with members on all six continents – and the national vexillological organisation of the United Kingdom.

The Flag Institute provides advice and assistance to many organisations, including the MoD, DCMS, DCLG, FCO, BBC, ITN, Statesman‘s Yearbook, Jane‘s Fighting Ships, Reader‘s Digest, and many publishers, museums and libraries.