Parliament to fly county flags as new prime minister is announced

COUNTY flags are to be flown outside parliament for the first time in a bid to celebrate the “rich and proud heritage of our nation”, the Government has announced.

Jake Berry, the northern powerhouse minister, has arranged to fly 50 flags around Parliament Square on Historic County Flags Day on July 23, coincidentally the same day as the expected announcement of the result of the Conservative leadership election.

The following day, July 24, Theresa May will speak at her final Prime Minister’s Questions before heading to Buckingham Palace to offer the Queen her resignation as Prime Minister.

Her successor – expected by bookmakers to be Boris Johnson due to his lead over rival Jeremy Hunt – will then drive to the Palace to be appointed by the Queen.

Mr Berry said: “This is the first time we have marked this important day in our calendar this way. I cannot think of a better way to show the rich and proud heritage of our nation, the strength of our Union and the pride that all communities share in the county they think of as home.

“It will also mark the start of a new chapter in our nation’s history. We will have a new prime minister, who will chart a new course for our country, lead the nation out of the European Union and ensure every community shares in our prosperous future.”

Mr Berry, who describes himself as a “proud Lancastrian”, will also be writing to all county council leaders urging them to fly their county flag on July 23.

The flags include the 37 registered county flags of England, the six of Scotland’s counties and the seven of Wales.

With no wide acceptance of the county flags of Northern Ireland, the Union flag will fly to show the importance of Northern Ireland in the UK.

In April, Mr Berry urged local authorities to do more to celebrate and promote England’s historic counties.