MS hits out at Reform calls to stop flying Ukrainian flag outside the Senedd
Mark Mansfield
A Plaid Cymru MS has accused Reform UK of being “out of touch” after the party backed calls for the Ukrainian flag to be removed from outside the Welsh Parliament.
Lindsay Whittle criticised the proposal after Reform UK’s Welsh leader Dan Thomas said he would like to see the Ukrainian flag taken down and replaced with a local or UK flag.
The row follows comments made by Reform Senedd member Cai Parry-Jones, who described flying Ukraine’s blue and yellow flag outside the Senedd as “virtue signalling”.
Responding to comments from the duo, Mr Whittle said: “This demand shows just how out of touch Reform are with the overwhelming majority of Welsh people who are in support of Ukraine’s brave fight against Russian invaders.”
The Blaenau Gwent, Caerffili and Rhymni MS said he had been contacted by Yuliia Bond, a member of the Ukrainian community who now lives in Caerphilly county, asking for his support.
Mr Whittle added: “I can unequivocally say I fully support the flying of the Ukraine flag outside our parliament in Cardiff.
“We should stand up against Putin and his regime who are constantly shelling innocent people in Ukraine and flying the flag is a show of support for their fight.
“It would be much better for everyone if Reform Senedd members refrained from trying to stir things up at every opportunity.”
The debate follows comments made by Mr Thomas in an interview with BBC Politics Wales in which he argued that public buildings in the UK should fly UK flags rather than those of other nations.
Asked whether he wanted to see the Ukrainian flag removed from the Senedd estate, he said: “Yes, I would like to see that flag removed. We could replace it with the Cardiff County flag or something like that.”
Mr Thomas also said: “I think all flags flown in the United Kingdom should be United Kingdom flags, and even counties as well.”
Asked whether removing the flag conflicted with showing solidarity with Ukraine, he said: “We can show solidarity, and we have as a country, but we could do it without flying the flags.”
Mr Parry-Jones told BBC Wales he supported Ukraine’s resistance to Russia’s invasion but argued flying the flag did not materially affect the conflict.
He said: “We need to move away from virtue signalling politics – people see through it and rightfully want politicians to go back to focusing on bread-and-butter issues that will positively and noticeably impact the people of Wales.”
The Senedd declined to comment.
Russian invasion
The Ukrainian flag has flown outside the Welsh Parliament since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Currently the Senedd flies two Welsh flags and one Union flag alongside the Ukrainian flag, with one of the Welsh flags occasionally replaced to mark special events.
Support our Nation today
For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.
Personaly i would prefer to see the butchers apron removed
Perhaps this could be a suitable cause for a Senedd petition? In and of itself it would only be a symbolic gesture, but it coudl serve as a marker of resitance to Reform and other unionist forces in Cymru.
In the fight against Farage’s Fascists every small gesture of resistance becomes significant.
Amazing idea.
What an excellent idea!
The Russiaform leader in Y Senedd is calling for a UK flag when there is already one there. DER! There is another UK(RAINE) flag there also. There are rightly TWO Ddreigiau Goch. They lost a by election to Lindsey after intimidating the Caerffili Ukrainians. Calling for their flag to be removed amounts to making pro Russian statements in a Parliament. If cash is found following them, Gill had better make space in his cell.
Good to see Reform focusing on those “bread and butter” issues…
Id prefer to see the awful union Jack taken down outside all government buildings in Cymru.
It represents theft, genocide and abuse and has zero place in our country.
Just like Reform supporters and members.
Sick to death of people’s patriotism being questioned because they only want to see red, white and blue flags in public places. 🙃
What would Nathan say?
Remind me to ask him in a decade
“Can I have another bung please”?
I hope that’s a quote, Jeff.
Farage always batted for Putin.
Gill was caught but Farage was saying the same things.
Since the Union flag it has no Welsh representation it might as well be just as foreign as the Ukrainian flag. And if people are going to respond with ‘Yes, but thousands of Welsh servicemen fought and died under that flag”, well the very fact the it has no Welsh representation is itself an insult to their memories. The Ukrainians on the other hand, are not only defending their own country, but also the wider security of Europe against a tyrannical regime that continues to threaten the UK with nuclear weapons. Calling yourself a patriot whilst spewing Kremlin propaganda is… Read more »
Remove the Butchers apron instead. Most Welsh people would support that.
No to the Nation of Sanctuary policy. No to the Ukrainian flag. A touch of vice signalling going on from Putin’s Poodles??
Flags of countries guilty of colonialism (past or present) should be banned, so no DisUnion Jack or Russia flag (uncoincidentally the same colours),
So only Y Ddraig Coch and the Ukraine flag for our senedd, a former colony supporting another country now under threat of colonisation.
There is a Union Jack at the HMP residence where the most recent Reform leader now lives, so we could allow him to pay for a Russian flag alongside it, from the money they gave him.
Thanks for referring to the “disUK”. Now here’s a thought. I never pronounce is as “YouKay” but as “Uck”. Every meme has to start somewhere.
Funny that. Reform suddenly have an aversion to flags, having festooned the St. George’s flag all over England.