Union & Welsh flags to fly at all times at Guildhall – proposal to fly Welsh flag alone voted down

A debate of which flags should be flown over the Guildhall broke out last week, amid calls that the council should only fly the Welsh flag at all times.

The topic of which flag should be flown above the Guildhall came up as part of a proposed revision to Wrexham Council’s constitution, with everyone in the Council Chamber (including Wrexham.com) expecting the paper before councillors to be nodded through.

In the report considered by councillors, it had been recommended that the council agrees to fly the Union and Welsh flags at all times on two of the Guildhall flag poles.

However leader of the Plaid Cymru group, Cllr Marc Jones, called for a ‘slight but important’ amendment to the report, requesting that only the Welsh flag is flown at all times.

Cllr Jones said: “I want the council to follow the example of Glyndwr University and have the Red Dragon only. I would like the council to follow the example of our rugby and football fans and have the Red Dragon flag only. This is the only flag that we need above the Guildhall.

“I would like to amend clause 3.3 to ‘The council agrees to fly the Welsh flag at all times on the Guildhall flagpoles.”

He added: “Yes it is a symbolic change, but flags are all about symbols. They’re more than just bits of coloured cloth. The Welsh flag consists of white for peace, green for the land and environment and red for the passion of the people.

“I can’t think of a better flag to fly above us. So I hope you will support this amendment.”

This was seconded by deputy leader of the Plaid Cymru group, Cllr Carrie Harper.

However these comments were challenged by Cllr Pritchard, who said it would be an “insult to everybody else in this country to remove the Union Jack”.

Cllr Pritchard added: “With regards to flying the one flag, absolutely not. I would not support it and I will tell you why.

“I am Welsh, I am proud and passionate. But I am British and the Union Jack represents me as a person, but also as a Welshman. I think it would be an insult to everybody else within this country to remove the Union Jack, they should fly side by side the Welsh flag and the Union Jack.

“I’ll give you an example. Welsh soldiers have gone from Wales and fought with the United Kingdom and died side by side with English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish.

“We are a country and we stand together. I am Welsh. I am proud and passionate, but I’m British too.”

At this point there were murmurings of support for Cllr Pritchard’s comments from several other councillors in the chamber.

He added: “I will not support it and I hope no member in this chamber does either. I think what we are suggesting is to fly the Union Jack side by side with the Welsh flag is fantastic, wonderful and to me beautiful. To me that is how it should be.”

A separate concern about the constitution was also raised by Cllr Dana Davies, who noted that the Constitutional Working Group appeared not to be meeting regularly, and some elements of the report had not been before it to be discussed.

Cllr Davies was reassured by a Council Officer that ‘major changes’ would go through the appropriate channels.

The proposed constitution amendments were approved following with a majority of councillors voting in favour, with the proposed amendment lost three votes to 44.