Kirklees Council has adopted a new flag-lifting policy following a vote by the local authority.
The approved guidelines restrict which flags may be displayed on civic buildings under council ownership or management.
Under the newly established framework, only the Union Flag, the Flag of St George, the Civic Flag, and designated commemorative banners associated with specific occasions will be permitted on council premises.
The decision was implemented without seeking prior authorisation from local ward representatives.
The opposition leader at Kirklees Council, Green Party councillor Andrew Cooper, has condemned the approach as divisive and unnecessary.
He expressed disappointment that the Reform UK administration chose to pursue such a policy given the numerous pressing challenges confronting local residents.
The council currently faces a budget shortfall of £13.6 million, while demand for services supporting elderly and vulnerable residents continues to rise significantly.
Additionally, concerns regarding illegal waste disposal and the condition of local roads remain prominent issues for residents throughout the Kirklees area, according to Cooper.
He argued that rather than addressing these substantive matters, the administration opted to pursue a policy that could inflame tensions regarding flag restrictions on civic properties.
Cooper noted that the previous Kirklees framework placed decisions about flag display with the mayor, the council’s chief executive, and the council leader jointly.
The opposition figure pointed out that councillor Sarah Wood, as the executive leader, would have retained influence over flag decisions even under the former arrangements, questioning the rationale for establishing a formal policy.
He suggested the apparent objective was to restrict Pride flags and symbols of support for Ukraine and Palestine, despite Kirklees having never previously raised banners for those causes and no significant public demand for removal of existing displays.
Cooper concluded that the announcement would merely intensify community tensions while diverting attention from matters requiring genuine governmental focus.
Councillor Wood, representing Reform UK and serving as council leader, maintained that the policy establishes a transparent and consistent framework across the authority.
She emphasised that the approach centres on symbols capable of uniting all residents, specifically highlighting national and community identity as shared values worth celebrating through civic display.