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Welsh Tories complain about Llywydd’s Senedd flag ban

24 Jun 2021 2 minute read
West Clwyd and Aberconwy Count for the National Assembly Election 5 May 2016. Darren Millar (middle) and Janet Finch-Saunders (left); both elected as Conservative AMs. Picture by Llywelyn2000 (CC BY-SA 4.0).

The Welsh Tories have complained about the Llywydd’s decision to ban the displaying of flags in the Senedd.

Elin Jones imposed the order after Janet Finch-Saunders, the Conservative Senedd member for Aberconwy, asked Welsh Government Minister for Finance, Rebecca Evans a question on Zoom with a Union Jack in the background.

The Llywydd said she’d noticed a “proliferation of flag flying” and even jokingly threatened to fly the flag of the “Independent Tropical Republic of Ceredigion” if it continued.

The Welsh Conservatives have described the move as “bizarre” and insisted that there is “nothing wrong” with Senedd members having “flags on display”.

Laura Anne Jones also had a British flag on display in the Senedd, which also had the face of the Monarch on it. She flew the Welsh flag too.

‘Intervention’ 

A Welsh Conservative spokesperson told BBC Wales: “This is a bizarre intervention from the presiding officer.

“There should be nothing wrong with Members of the Senedd displaying Welsh or British flags in their office. Indeed, the Senedd has such flags on display.

“Rather than policing members’ backdrops, it would be more helpful if the presiding officer expended energy ensuring government ministers addressed the Welsh Parliament first on issues such as lockdown restrictions, rather than the media and that they show respect to Senedd members by showing up on time.”

Elin Jones said: “Can I just say that I’ve noticed a tendency for a proliferation of flag flying behind members on Zoom this week.

“It looks as if the R rate on flags is greater than 1 at the moment. Therefore, from next week, no more flags.

“Otherwise, I’ll be tempted to fly the flag of the Independent Tropical Republic of Ceredigion behind me here. So, we move on to a flagless week next week please.”


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Paul
Paul
3 years ago

Ministers (Welsh, Scottish and UK) have flags behind them at press conferences

Chris
Chris
3 years ago
Reply to  Paul

Press conferences yes. You are making a statement on behalf of your government to the people of your nation.
“Patriotic” virtue signalling in meetings, nope. Not a hard distinction to make

Quornby
Quornby
3 years ago

Hardly surprising that there is negative reaction to the Tory’s crude flag flying antics. Johnson has two union flags the size of galleon sails at his press conferences and wherever they can (e.g. UK government offices and Tory MPs living rooms) they flaunt their flag that has no Welsh content at all.

Joc
Joc
3 years ago
Reply to  Quornby

Exactly. The union jack does not in any way represent the Welsh Nation. We were oppresed and denied our heritage for over 500 years. It’s an insult to display it at our hard earned Senedd.

Gill Jones
Gill Jones
3 years ago

Well, there’s a surprise!
Dal dy dir Llywydd

Wrexhamian
Wrexhamian
3 years ago

It seems a sensible decision by the Llywydd, bearing in mind the insensitivity of displaying the union flag in a Welsh public forum right now. It’s actually for the Welsh Tories’ own benefit, since it was never likely to endear them to large numbers of the Welsh electorate.

Nick Randall-Smith
Nick Randall-Smith
3 years ago
Reply to  Wrexhamian

Flags are colourful
Flags are fun
Flags are divisive
And not for the Senedd, mun.

Members of the Senedd
Represent the people of Wales
The Union Flag
Has no dragon scales.

When Dewi Sant
On the Jack is shown
Perhaps it can
In the Senedd be flown.

HeddGwyn
HeddGwyn
3 years ago
Reply to  Wrexhamian

A large number of the Welsh electorafd voted for them

Wrexhamian
Wrexhamian
3 years ago
Reply to  HeddGwyn

That was then, this is now. Also, if a majority were to vote for them, you would have a point.

Stephen Owen
Stephen Owen
3 years ago

I don’t want to see the butcher’s apron all over the place.

Chris
Chris
3 years ago
Reply to  Stephen Owen

Maybe on toilet paper

Stephen Owen
Stephen Owen
3 years ago
Reply to  Chris

Don’t want to see it there either 😂 😂 😂 😂

Nick Randall-Smith
Nick Randall-Smith
3 years ago

Flags are colourful
Flags are fun
Flags are divisive
And not for the Senedd, mun.

Members of the Senedd
Represent the people of Wales
The Union Flag
Has no dragon scales.

When Dewi Sant
On the Jack is shown
Perhaps it can
In the Senedd be flown.

Stephen Owen
Stephen Owen
3 years ago

The Tories will create a culture war over this.

Quornby
Quornby
3 years ago
Reply to  Stephen Owen

Probably their intent even though they’ll lose.

Chris
Chris
3 years ago
Reply to  Stephen Owen

Been going on since 2019. This is just the latest salvo

Chris
Chris
3 years ago

Nope.Merely to preside

j humphrys
j humphrys
3 years ago

About a year ago, in a Wrecsam nightclub, a table of young men started “Engerland…….”
What followed was like that scene in Casablanca with the Germans bellowing, and the French colonials repost of the Marseillaise, but with Mae hen wlad, then “Wales Wales……..” Girls were standing on the tables! This, in the supposed least patriotic part of Cymru. The times, they are a’changing.

Last edited 3 years ago by j humphrys
Wrexhamian
Wrexhamian
3 years ago
Reply to  j humphrys

I like that. Your round in the Saith Seren next time you’re back in town, JH.

Ieuan Evans
Ieuan Evans
3 years ago

Janet Finch Saunders is the most divisive politician in Cardiff Bay. Utterly deplorable.

Ken covack
Ken covack
3 years ago

More divisive hypercritical tory thinking, they can impose their butcher’s apron on us, as well as our food and our white goods but we can’t display OUR Countries Colours higher than theirs or more than theirs. Get a life you bunch of arsewipes! You are in the Senedd, you abide by Senedd rules, you don’t like it then go!

Alex
Alex
3 years ago

I see no reason why the desks of Senedd members working at home should be any different from their desks in the debate chamber: if flags and props aren’t allowed in one, they shouldn’t be allowed in the other.

Chris
Chris
3 years ago

Welsh Tories complain.
No more text needed

Alistair Molyneux
Alistair Molyneux
3 years ago

Pathetic people in pathetic jobs

Chris Franks
Chris Franks
3 years ago

The Conservative MSs are simply following orders.

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