Royal Mail orders posties not to f ly St George’s f lag
PATRIOTIC postal workers wanting to show their support for England during the World Cup have been banned from displaying St George’s flags on delivery vehicles.
Royal Mail bosses fear flags and stickers could create a ‘health and safety’ hazard so their 125,000 delivery staff and 25,000 backroom workers are only allowed to display flags at their desks, not in public.
One postman in south-west London said: ‘It’s bonkers, frankly. Many posties are football fans and want to show their support for England – but we’re not allowed to do so.’
A Royal Mail van driver in the capital added: ‘Other vehicles use car flags without causing accidents, so why are we any different? Royal Mail drivers will be angered.’
The move was last night condemned by Labour MP John Spellar, who said: ‘It’s absolutely astonishing. All over England, people will be flying the flag with pride to support the national team.
‘Royal Mail bosses should get real and join their workers in backing England.’ Mr Spellar, who represents Warley in the West Midlands, added: ‘We fly the union flag outside my constituency office but when I’m there this weekend, we’ll dig out the St George’s flag and put it up.’
Royal Mail’s ban on flags and stickers extends to trolleys, bicycles, vans and lorries. The company had the same policy at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
A Royal Mail spokesman said: ‘ Flags should not be flown as Royal Mail has a duty of care to all employees and to members of the public.
‘It’s a company-wide policy, which covers flags and stickers and covers trollies, bikes, vans and lorries.
‘No other flag or insignia should be carried next to the Royal Mail brand and insignias. Flags placed on vehicles can obscure the driver’s view.
‘They can also pose a hazard to other road users if they are lost when the vehicle is moving.
‘We want our colleagues to have every opportunity to follow the World Cup but we need to continue to provide services to customers. There will be flags on display in Royal Mail offices and there will be live radio commentary on PA systems during matches.’
Pro-Brexit MP Mr Spellar has previously spoken out against police who urged England fans travelling to the tournament in Russia not to display the St George’s flag.
As England prepare for their opening game against Tunisia on Monday night, Mark Roberts, Deputy Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police, said fans carrying flags could ‘come across as imperialistic and cause antagonism’.
But Mr Spellar said: ‘It may be that there are problems with organised Russian groups targeting foreign fans and our police should be liaising with their Russian counterparts to deal with that.
‘To come out with a load of sociological gobbledygook makes one wonder what on earth the top brass in the police are thinking. This doesn’t reflect the view of the public in South Yorkshire, and it isn’t the view in the West Midlands.’