TOWN hall chiefs have provoked outrage by flying the EU’s colours at the expense of the Union flag, it emerged yesterday.
The European Union emblem flying high above the Dagenham town hall[NATIONAL NEWS]The symbol of Brussels domination will permanently flutter over Barking and Dagenham’s town hall and civic centre alongside the London borough’s own flag.
Council boss Darren Rodwell made the decision himself, in secret, using leaders’ special powers.
Critics accused pro-Europe Mr Rodwell of deliberately provoking the borough’s huge anti-EU contingent.
In the recent European elections Barking and Dagenham voters put Eurosceptic party Ukip in second place with nearly 13,000 votes. Only Labour polled more.
Local MEP Gerard Batten, of Ukip, said: “It is outrageous the council should choose to fly a foreign flag above public buildings but not our own.
“The Union flag or the St George’s cross should be up there too.
“Mr Rodwell is sticking two fingers up at the huge number of voters of Barking and Dagenham who said in the clearest way possible they do not want to be part of the EU.
“It is a symbol of the Labour Party’s arrogance on this issue. They do not care what the people want, they only want to impose their own beliefs.”
A council insider warned that Mr Rodwell was alienating himself from colleagues and voters.
“We knew nothing about this until someone spotted the flag above the civic centre,” she said. “He might have the power to do this without consulting anyone but that does not mean he should.”
Both the EU and UK flag flew above the Barking town hall [NATIONAL NEWS]Darren Rodwell, 44, a married father-of-five, was elected leader of the council’s Labour group in May after a bitter internal struggle. He took office last month.
The EU flag began flying over Barking town hall and Dagenham civic centre last week.
Mr Rodwell defended the move and said the EU, Borough and Union flag all flew on local authority buildings. He added: “Here in Barking and Dagenham we are proud of our history, we respect and rightly celebrate it whilst also are inspired by what the future holds for our borough.
“We are one borough, one community and next year sees us celebrate 50 years as a borough of Barking and Dagenham, a landmark we will be celebrating with all of our different communities.
“I am proud to be a resident of Barking and Dagenham, a member of the Union of the United Kingdom and a member of the European Union.
“We are initiating a ‘donate a flag’ campaign in our borough which will see residents from our different communities donate flags from their home countries and groups to be flown from our buildings on days special to them.”
The Labour councillor ordered the EU banner to be on display permanently because, according to the council’s website, he has the “discretion to fly flags at other times”.
Last night the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said it was a matter for the council which flags it flew.
This is Labour all over, they don't give a flying s**t about anyone but themselves. The only thing Labour want's are your votes, once they have them, they turn their backs on you.
The EU flag is a horrible disgusting flag, it's dull, it's drab and it means nothing but the domination of Europe, and when the British people vote out of Europe, then this Rodwell can take the EU flag down and shove it up his arse.
Notice what Rodwell said. He said we ( The Labour Party) are initiating a donate a flag campaign, this of course means flags from other countries will be flown, so does this mean the flag of Islam will fly from a pole, you bet it will.
Muslims have said they will fly the flag of Islam in Great Britain, and this Rodwell has just just handed it to them on a plate, but let us not forget that the Labour party is in total support of Muslims, and it's the Muslims that run the Labour run councils.
If your White and British, the Labour party hate you, all they are after are you votes and nothing more, you only matter to them on voting day.