Red, white and blue bunting? That’s so racist, says councillor
IN A display of patriotic fervour, an idyllic market town laid plans to hang out Union flag bunting to mark the Queen’s 90th birthday.
But one councillor wanted the decorations banned – because it looked like support for Right-wing extremists.
Councillor Liz harvey claimed visitors to historic Ledbury in herefordshire might think it was the UK headquarters of the National Front. she voted against the bunting at a town council meeting last week, saying Irish tourists had been left ‘unsettled’ by a similar display in 2012.
the red, white and blue decorations were strung up for the Olympic torch relay through the town four years ago, and left up for the rest of the ‘season’.
But Councillor harvey said a group of Irish visitors to a poetry festival later that year said it left them ‘unnerved’ and ‘perplexed’.
‘One asked me if Ledbury is the UK headquarters of the National Front,’ she said.
‘Others wondered if they had walked into a National Front area, as they were used to this sort of thing in Ireland.
‘they were quite unsettled.’ she added: ‘If I can make one plea, please no red, white and blue bunting.’ the councillor, a member of the independent It’s Our County party on herefordshire Council, spoke out during a meeting to discuss ways to mark the monarch’s landmark birthday on June 11.
Despite her pleas, members voted in favour of spending £500 on Union flag bunting for the Queen and also for the herefordshire Armed Forces Day in Ledbury, on June 25.
Councillor elaine Fieldhouse said: ‘It’s for the Queen’s birthday, and we are red, white and blue, and that is what we’ll have.’ Councillor Bob Barnes added: ‘the events are a celebration of the Queen and Great Britain, and the members of the Armed Forces who fought under the Union flag.’
town mayor Annette Crowe, who is half-Irish, said: ‘We are talking about our Queen and country.
‘the bunting should be red, white and blue.’
Only Councillor tony Bradford, a self-confessed Republican, called for the money to be used to fund a local food bank instead.
After the meeting, Councillor harvey stood by her comments.
however, she was later forced into an embarrassing U-turn as anger over her views – dubbed ‘Buntingate’ by some locals – spread. A handful of residents even called for her to resign, saying she had ‘lost touch’.
Councillor harvey said she would ‘wholeheartedly’ support bunting for the Queen or military events, but suggested other colours would be more suitable if they were left out for the rest of the summer.
‘If they are going to be up all the time, perhaps we can consider what colour they are going to be, instead of just going for red, white and blue,’ she added.
‘When you have it right through the town and it’s not for a national event, it just looks a bit odd.’
‘They were quite unsettled’