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Enfield Conservatives defend not flying Pride flag

Joe IversLocal Democracy Reporting Service
News imageJoe Ives/LDRS A Progress Pride flag, featuring the traditional rainbow stripes alongside a chevron of black, brown, light blue, pink, and white stripes, flies from a white flagpole against a cloudy sky, with pine tree branches visible on the left.Joe Ives/LDRS
Enfield Labour said the policy shift was a "slap in the face" to LGBTQ+ people

The leader of a north London council has defended a decision not to fly the Pride flag outside its main building, saying it was done for "clarity and consistency".

Enfield Council's new Conservative administration had promised in its election manifesto to only fly the Union Flag, the Flag of St George, and the Enfield Beast flag outside Enfield Civic Centre which they said was aimed at "restoring a sense of traditional civic pride".

However, the minority administration, which took power in late May, has faced criticism after it chose to fly the Armed Forces Day flag over the weekend instead.

Enfield Labour described the decision as "a slap in the face" to the local LGBTQ+ community.

Pride Month is celebrated globally every June to support LGBTQ+ rights and commemorate the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York.

Under the previous Labour administration, the Pride flag was routinely flown outside the council headquarters.

In a video posted to social media, Conservative council leader Alessandro Georgiou said that the three standard flags were "permanent", while the Armed Forces Day flag was a temporary addition to celebrate service personnel.

This year, Armed Forces Day was held on Saturday 27 June.

News imageLDRS Several flags, including the Union Flag and a yellow flag featuring the Enfield Beast, fly on tall poles in front of the multi-storey glass and concrete facade of the Enfield Civic Centre. Part of a brick building and green trees frame the scene.LDRS
The Conservatives say their flag policy restores "a sense of traditional civic pride"

Before the local elections in May, Georgiou had told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) he would not be against flying the Pride flag.

But in a statement issued this week, he said the new policy was designed to represent everyone in the borough equally.

"This decision reflects a clear and consistent policy that the flags flown permanently outside the civic centre represent our borough, our nation and our country, and those who serve it and defend our freedoms," Georgiou said.

"These flags represent every resident of Enfield, regardless of their background, beliefs, ethnicity, faith, sexual orientation or identity."

He added that the council's commitment to diversity would be shown through its services and community engagement rather than flags.

Labour councillors rejected the justification, arguing that the council should continue to visibly show its solidarity with LGBTQ+ residents.

A spokesperson for Enfield Labour said the party "was and is proud to stand with Enfield's LGBTQ+ community".

The council said it would still be celebrating the community next month by hosting Chroma: A Festival of Pride at the Dugdale Arts Centre - a music event which aims to spotlight LGBTQ+ artists and voices.

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