Reform UK and the Conservative Party have urged London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan to fly the St George's flag outside City Hall throughout the World Cup, arguing it is a symbol of national pride that should be displayed during major sporting tournaments.
Currently, the Union Jack, the Ukrainian flag, and the Pride flag are flying outside the mayoral headquarters in the Docklands building. The St George's flag has only been flown on six occasions: five times for St George's Day and once ahead of England's UEFA European Football Championship final appearance in 2024.
Reform UK launches 'Fly the Flag' petition
Reform UK London Assembly Member Alex Wilson launched a campaign to ensure the St George's Cross is displayed for the duration of England's World Cup campaign. “It's a huge national event, and I think it's only right and proper that the London Assembly and the Greater London Authority as a whole should be visibly showing our support for the national team,” he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).
Wilson added: “I've been asking that the St George's flag be flown from one of the flagpoles. It's only ever been flown on St George's Day itself, and on one other occasion, which was when England reached the Euros final a couple of years ago. It should be flying as a measure of support during any major international sporting tournaments of football, cricket, rugby – whenever England is competing.”
Deputy Mayor's response and Conservative criticism
During a Plenary session on July 2, Deputy Mayor for Culture Justine Simons told Wilson she was not “in charge of flags” but would “run the idea up the flagpole” at City Hall. Wilson described it as “utterly shameful” that the flag was not already flying and questioned Khan’s reluctance. “There are some on the left that see the St George's flag as being a symbol of the far-right, which it clearly isn't,” he said. “You look at the England team – it is a very multicultural team. It is something the entire country, people from all walks of life, all backgrounds, should be able to get behind.”
Separately, Susan Hall, leader of the Conservative group on the London Assembly, called the absence of the flag “a disgrace.” She said: “We should be proud of our common identity, and a flag which we can unite under at a time when many feel so fractured. It would cost almost nothing and take almost no time to rectify – but its absence speaks volumes for the priorities and beliefs of our Mayor, who views the flag as secondary to dozens of other causes and issues.”
City Hall defends current flag policy
A City Hall spokesperson told the LDRS: “The Union Flag is proudly flown every day outside City Hall and the St George’s Cross flies each year to mark St George’s Day. City Hall hosts a St George’s Day festival at Trafalgar Square every year to celebrate everything that is great about England and regularly supports screenings and celebration events to bring Londoners together in honour of England’s sporting success.”
Historically, City Hall has flown flags for Armed Forces Day, Bisexual Pride, the Commonwealth of Nations, the Council of Europe, Jamaica, the King's Coronation, Lesbian Pride, Pride Progress, the Welsh Red Dragon, Romani People, Saint Andrew's Saltire, Saint Patrick's Saltire, Transgender Pride, and Windrush. The St George's flag has been notably absent from this list except for the six occasions mentioned.
