TORY councillor Braden Davy has called on Angus Council to fly the St George’s Cross today, as a mark of support for England in their World Cup semi-final against Croatia.
The appeal to local authority bosses was branded “daft” by political rivals, but Davy insisted it was a “sporting gesture of good will”.
Writing on his Facebook page, he said: “I’m calling for the England Flag to fly in Angus.
“We should get behind our fellow home nation and support England in whatever way we can.
“Unfortunately we didn’t qualify, but with England doing as well as they have, and Southgate’s side exceeding all expectations, it’s time to mark this occasion and lend our support for England.
“The Scotland Office will be putting up the England Flag and in a spirit of camaraderie, let’s get it flying at Angus House too”.
The councillor said he had “no doubt” that “our friends across the Tweed would do the same were Scotland making such progress. The chance of football coming home to these isles is something everyone in the UK can celebrate.”
Montrose and District SNP Councillor Bill Duff wasn’t won over: “This is a daft suggestion, and I don’t support it," he said.
“The first stumbling block to this is I don’t believe we actually own an English flag and would have to go out and buy one.
“The council already has a clear flag policy which dictates which flag, usually the Saltire or Union Flag is flown on certain dates.
“Hardly a good use of resource in the current financial climate.”
An Angus Council spokesman said: “So far as possible, Angus Council observes the flag flying guidance as set out by the Scottish Government. We do not own a St George’s flag.”
Davy said since he had first made the appeal yesterday, he’d been inundated with offers of English flags to fly over the local authority’s Forfar HQ.
There was support for his plan from Glasgow Tory councillor Thomas Kerr. with Shettleston’s man in City Hall, tweeting: “What a good idea, we are one United Kingdom. I’ll always support Scotland first however I’ll back any team from these islands who could win.”
The last home team to make the semi-finals in a major football competition was Wales in 2016.
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