RICHARD Hopley, the Reform party bigot who represents South Molton on Devon County Council has confirmed he contacted the town hall to request the flag be taken down because of “complaints from constituents about the rainbow flag being flown during Pride Month.”
He said:
It was reported to me that the flag was causing upset to some constituents and asked me if I could do something about it. I agree it was unwise of me to get involved with town issues, but these constituents have a right to voice their opinions.
The Pride flag was one of several banners raised throughout the year on South Molton Town Hall for commemorative and celebratory occasions. The town has flown the rainbow flag to coincide with June’s Pride celebrations, a gesture meant to affirm inclusivity.
Town clerk Andrew Coates responded bluntly, telling Cllr Hopley the matter was “well outside” his duties and making clear that such decisions are made by the town council. He went on to accuse Cllr Hopley of appearing to hold a prejudice, adding:
Your comments have not been welcomed by this town council.
Mayor of South Molton Wayne Martin raising the Pride flag in South Molton (Credit : South Molton Town Council)
The Pride flag was one of several banners raised throughout the year on South Molton Town Hall for commemorative and celebratory occasions. The town has flown the rainbow flag to coincide with June’s Pride celebrations, a gesture meant to affirm inclusivity.
The Pride flag was one of several banners raised throughout the year on South Molton Town Hall for commemorative and celebratory occasions. The town has flown the rainbow flag to coincide with June’s Pride celebrations, a gesture meant to affirm inclusivity.
Meanwhile, right-wingers have criticised a member of staff at Office for National Statistics (ONS) for wearing a Pride flag badge, with one critic describing it as the “flag of transgender activism”.
Emma Rourke, the interim deputy national statistician at the ONS, was seen wearing a small Progress Pride flag on her lanyard during her first address to staff, prompting right-wingers to claim that wearing the badge was not “impartial”.
Fiona McAnena, the director of campaigns at gender-critical group Sex Matters, told The Telegraph that the badge was “ostentatiously political”, and claiming that Rourke has “picked a side” by wearing it. She added:
The civil service code tells civil servants to be impartial. Rourke’s actions signal that when it comes to the clash between biological sex and self-defined ‘gender identity’, she has picked a side.
Hat tip (both reports): Barrie McDonagh
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