Tom Richmond: Jake Berry hoist by own petard over council flag-flying plan

I am referring, of course, to the idiotic New Year announcement made by Jake Berry, the Local Government Minister.

Clearly underwhelmed by his high street and Northern Powerhouse briefs, his big idea is for English counties to fly their own flags.

He claims that the “English lion has been reduced to the Cheshire Cat by wet civic adherence to local government reorganisations”.

And he added: “With Brexit just around the corner it’s time he roared again across England.”

Really?

Just where do you start with this nonsense that Mr Berry appears to have concocted with his friend and mentor Boris Johnson, the ex-Foreign Secretary?

First, most councils are so broke that they probably couldn’t afford to buy sufficient flags adorned with a logo like Yorkshire’s white rose.

Second, this should be a matter for local authorities – if they do have the money – rather than interfering Ministers with nothing better to say or do.

Third, it will take more than this to mask the Government’s troubles over Brexit that were only put on hold temporarily over the Christmas and New Year break. For the record, Mr Berry backed Remain in June 2016 – but now says he would vote to leave the EU.

Fourth, this flag-waving exercise won’t help those town centres that are counting on Mr Berry to put in practical measures to save high streets – or champion the Northern Powerhouse in the corridors of power.

Fifth, this pathetic pronouncement is totally at odds with Mr Berry’s obstinate opposition to the One Yorkshire devolution deal which does, in fact, have the potential to unite this county because of its history and heritage.

Instead of trying to ‘balkanise’ Yorkshire by turning God’s own county into a series of city-regions competing against each other for the same opportunities and funding, he should be supporting local leaders in their efforts to get devolution off the ground – or make way for someone who shares this region’s aims and ambitions.

And that, if truth be told, would be a genuine reason to get out the bunting and white rose flags...

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