Latest news with #MichaelLavalette
BBC News
18-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Opposition attacks Reform-led Lancashire council's new flag policy
A council has voted through changes that mean a number of flags, including the Pride flag, will no longer be flown over Lancashire County Council voted to restrict those flown to national, county, royal, military and commonwealth flags only in a debate at County Hall in Preston. The ruling Reform UK group told a meeting on Thursday that flags are a way of promoting shared identity and "individual political causes should not take precedence".But Independent county councillor Michael Lavalette accused the party of "trying to divide our community". Reform UK took charge of the council in 2025, and cabinet member for education and skills Matthew Salter said the flag policy was a matter of promoting "shared identity".He said: "We are all Lancastrians – whatever our particular characteristics, whatever someone's sexuality, ethnic background, religion – whatever else is true of us as individuals."We can all come together to celebrate Lancashire and to celebrate the flags of our nation." 'Posture politics' Reform councillor Joshua Roberts, who put the motion forward, said: "Inclusivity isn't measured by the number of flags flown, it's reflected in our policies, services and engagement. "The flag policy is about civic neutrality and unity – not exclusion."Currently the flag of England, the St. George's Cross, the Commonwealth flag, Armed Forces flag and Merchant Navy red ensign all fly over council buildings on or around the individual national days dedicated to those places and Pride flag is flown on the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia on 17 Lavalette said the leading Reform group was "engaging in posture politics".He said: "You're talking to an audience out there that you think want to hear about flags and the range of flags that people fly when actually they don't."Leader of the opposition group, Independent councillor Azhar Ali, said "the list goes on and on" when considering other issues the authority should be looking at, including "the financial position, treasury management, SEND, adult social care, working with the ICB, potholes"."The first opportunity for Reform to put forward some motions, and it's flags," he said. "You shame yourself and you shame this county and you haven't even got the guts to say 'I don't believe in that flag'," Liberal Democrat councillor, John Potter, told the meeting."You're supposed to be the free speech warriors talking truth to power, yet you try this nonsense."Roberts said the council "continues to support diverse communities through funding, outreach and representation"."This policy simply ensures that public buildings reflect shared civic identity, celebrating our local and national identity and acknowledging the important role…our armed forces play in the safety of our country," he final decision will be taken by cabinet at a later date after the motion was passed by a majority, with all opposition groups voting against it. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Telegraph
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Pro-Gaza local election candidate refused to denounce Hamas
A pro-Gaza candidate standing at this week's local elections once refused to denounce Hamas. Michael Lavalette, running as part of a Preston Independents group in the Lancashire city, declined to condemn the terror group when asked about the Oct 7 attacks. It comes amid growing fears that sectarian voting patterns seen at last year's general election will be repeated at the county council level. Mr Lavalette, an academic and member of the Socialist Workers Party, is on the ballot in Preston Central East and ran to become the MP for Preston in last year's general election. At a hustings event in June last year, the 62-year-old was asked whether he would 'denounce Hamas as a terrorist organisation regardless of your views' on the war in Gaza. Mr Lavalette replied: 'No… I think when your land is occupied, and when it has been for 76 years, people have the right to resist. 'They had the right to resist in the Second World War, the French resistance, the Yugoslavian resistance, the Italian resistance, the Greek resistance. And the Palestinians have the right to fight against their own disposition.' The Gaza conflict began on Oct 7 2023 when Hamas carried out a massacre in southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking another 251 into Gaza as hostages. At the same event, Mr Lavalette insisted that the conflict 'didn't start on Oct 7' and called for a Palestinian state to extend 'from the river Jordan to the Mediterranean'. In a social media post at the start of the local election campaign, he said: 'Palestine remains a central issue in British politics... so on May 1 in the local county elections we've decided that we are going to stand to raise the voice of Palestine once more at the elections.' Mr Lavalette has also been pictured on a pro-Palestinian march in front of a banner with the slogan 'from the sea to the river' – a variant of the phrase 'from the river, to the sea'. The slogan has been condemned as anti-Semitic by campaigners because it implies the destruction of Israel. It has been adopted by Hamas and is used in its official charter. Candidates running on a pro-Gaza platform elsewhere include Ahsan Jamil, standing in Doncaster for George Galloway's Workers Party of Britain. Mr Jamil's slogan is 'For Doncaster, For Gaza'. Khalil Ahmed, an independent candidate in High Wycombe, is a supporter of Gaza and Kashmir. He has been photographed on a pro-Kashmir march. Three Green Party candidates in North Hertfordshire and Stevenage have listed 'Israel genocide in Palestine' as a key campaign issue in their candidate profiles on the Green's website. Activists in Wycombe are telling Muslim voters who to back in next month's local elections, with a campaign video declaring that 'Allah sees everything' circulating in faith communities in Buckinghamshire. Pro-Palestinian MPs effectively became the sixth largest party in the Commons last year after five independent candidates unseated Labour rivals. Jess Phillips, the safeguarding minister, narrowly held on to her seat to shouts and boos from onlookers at her election count, including chants of 'shame on you' and 'free Palestine'.
