News reaches me that Newcastle city council have been compelled to remove an EU flag from the town hall. Current rules oblige councils to apply for planning permission before flying the EU flag (and presumably the UN one because it is not a national standard).

The EU flag, which has only come into common use over the past decade, is almost unique in that it is not a national flag but it clearly should not come under advertising regulations. Recognising this situation most citizens have been happy to see the EU flag flutter alongside flags without the formality of securing planning permission. Even the staunchly Eurosceptic Tory MEP Martin Callanan has been quoted as saying “ I do not have any problem with the flag being flown in principle.”

But not everybody has been so sensible. 24dash.com reveals Stephen Allison, a UKIP councillor in Hartlepool, has been revelling in the decision. If Mr Allison were only to refer to his own party’s website he would find that it clearly states that UKIP promises “freedom from bureaucratic politicians.” It is difficult to see how manipulating loopholes in the law to prevent councils from flying the EU flag can be seen as anything other than bureaucratic.

The government plans to liberalise the rules on flag flying later this year when perhaps the Eurosceptics will be forced to look for some arguments of substance.