Fury over St George flag ban

April 19, 2005

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A COUNCIL has ordered a shopkeeper to remove England flags from outside his business because they break health and safety rules.

Phil Moffat hoisted 20 flags from lamposts outside his shop in Tuebrook, Liverpool to celebrate St George's Day, which takes place on Saturday.

But within hours of the flags going up, he was visited by Liverpool City Council's Environmental Enforcement Co-ordinator.

Mr Moffat, who has flown the flags from the same lamposts for the last five years, was ordered to remove them or face a bill of '1,000 for the council to do so.

Ban

Today he vowed to invoke the bulldog spirit of Winston Churchill, after whom his shop - Churchill's Food Emporium - is named, and defy the flag ban.

He said: "It has really come to something when a proud Englishman can't raise a few flags to celebrate St George's Day.

"I have put these flags up every year for the last five years. I only leave them up for one week and then I take them down.

"After all, Irish tricolours were flying from lamposts along Scotland Road and Vauxhall Road during St Patrick's Day.

"I would like to know whether they were threatened with a '50 charge per flag to remove those.

"I have no intention of removing the flags and if the council take them down, I have plenty more to put back up. If they ask me for any money, they can whistle for it."

Should people be encouraged to celebrate the feast of St George? Have your say.

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Pauline, Manchester (19/04/2005 at 15:38)

Put the flags up on your shop Phil and let everybody enjoy them.. The council can't do anything about that ..

Rosemarie, Mossley (19/04/2005 at 15:45)

I agree with the buisness man on not taking them down, it appears everyone else can put their flags up and celebrate, but when it come to the british and them celebrating its a different matter. I will be displaying my flag ready for Saturday and I will be proud to wear my rose too.

Paul, *E*N*G*L*A*N*D* (19/04/2005 at 15:54)

Keep them up and if the jobsworth's come back play the race card, "is it cos I is English?"

If they do fine you put up an appeal on the web, I'm sure there are lots of people who are proud to be English who'll chip in and pay the fine, I know I would!

Sue, Warrington (19/04/2005 at 17:24)

Tell the council you will remove the patritic flags when all the jumble sale notices, and "earn extra money in your spare time" posters, have been removed from lamp posts! They remain there long after the event has taken place.

David, Higher Openshaw, Manchester (19/04/2005 at 20:36)

The Irsh proudly celebrate St Patricks day; the Welsh St Davids day. The Muslims have Ramadam. All are encouraged to celebrate their special days and are allowed flags, banners and virtually anything they want to advertise the day. Roads are closed, traffic diverted to accomadate them. Yet on St Georges day town halls refuse to fly the flag, people are threatened with fines and pubs refused small extensions on their licences. What is wrong with being English - and celebrating our patron Saints day ? It's not, as some claim, offensive to anyone nor racist. So lets get out there, fly the flag, celebrate our day and support the likes of Phil and the landlord of the Otter. Lets show a bit of pride in our country.

Chris, Atyrau, Kazakhstan (20/04/2005 at 07:12)

Don the flags you are right St George's Day is not celebrated enough by the English keep the pride I am very proud of my country and will definatley be celebrating the day here. Send me some flags.

Audrey, Moston (20/04/2005 at 11:56)

I think this is absolutely terrible. If we cannot celebrate our own patron saint then I don't think that the likes of St Patricks, the Chinese New Year etc should be allowed to celebrate. I will certainly be wearing my red rose and celebrating as I always have done.

Jason, Old Tafford (20/04/2005 at 14:00)

Is it a surprise that St Patrick's day, the Irish feastive, etc all gets the go ahead? Not when you consider that there is usually several members of Irish decent on each committe within Manchester City Council. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the current lord mayor a "Tom O'Callaghan". Maybe if he was a "Mr John Smith" then St Georges's day would be given the go ahead!

Billy Allman, Manchester (20/04/2005 at 14:05)

Health & Safety is an important part of everyday life and is there to control risks, but to much of a grip on society results in frustration and rebellion (Rowlin report, Hse, 1997), these risks have to be put into proportion. Councillors within some districts have not been properly briefed on the pros and cons of H&S enforcement, resulting in over vigilance causing more harm than good. If Americans can hang out flags the size of skyscrapers in a land full of compensation vultures, surely and realistically we should be as well.

Jean Bywater, Guildford (21/04/2005 at 01:11)

Show our Flag and be proud! It has been said before, but let us say it again & again, we are English, and we can display our flag. Just as do the Scots, the Welsh & the Irish, just the same as do the French, German, Americans etc, etc.
It's not racist, it's called, being patriotic! What a good job our forefather's were patriotic during the world wars.

Andy Turner, Knowsley, Liverpool (22/04/2005 at 20:16)

This has actually backfired for the liberal fascists of Liverpool City Council. I think more people than usual will go along to his butcher's shop in Tuebrook, Liverpool tomorrow (me included) to show their support. Local Radio Merseyside DJ Billy Butler was so incensed by this he's decided to broadcast his entire show from Churchill's butcher shop tomorrow morning. Liverpool Capital of Culture? Whose culture? Everyone's accept the English it seems. Farcical!!!

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