Reform UK London Assembly member Alex Wilson has launched a 'Fly the Flag' petition urging Mayor Sadiq Khan to display the St George's Cross outside City Hall for the duration of the World Cup. Wilson described the current absence of the flag as 'utterly shameful' and questioned the mayor's reluctance to show support for the England team.
Current Flags at City Hall
Currently, the Union Flag, the Ukrainian Flag, and the Pride Flag are flown at the mayoral headquarters in the Docklands. City Hall has previously displayed flags for Armed Forces Day, Bisexual Pride, the King’s Coronation, and Windrush. The St George’s flag has been flown on six occasions, including ahead of the 2024 Uefa European Football Championship final and annually on St George’s Day (23 April).
Wilson's Campaign
Wilson argued that the flag should be flown during major international sporting tournaments. 'It’s a huge national event, and I think it’s only right and proper that the London Assembly and the Greater London Authority as a whole should be visibly showing our support for the national team as they’re doing their very best over in North America at the moment,' he said. He added that the flag should be displayed for football, cricket, and rugby tournaments whenever England competes.
During a Thursday Plenary session, Deputy Mayor for Culture Justine Simons stated she was not 'in charge of flags' but would 'run the idea up the flagpole at City Hall'.
Conservative Support
Susan Hall, leader of the Conservative group on the London Assembly, echoed Wilson's calls. 'It is a disgrace that England’s flag is almost never flown at the City Hall of its capital city,' she said. 'We should be proud of our common identity, and a flag which we can unite under at a time when many feel so fractured. It would cost almost nothing and take almost no time to rectify – but its absence speaks volumes for the priorities and beliefs of our Mayor.'
City Hall Response
A City Hall spokesperson defended the current practice: 'The Union Flag is proudly flown every day outside City Hall and the St George’s Cross flies each year to mark St George’s Day. City Hall hosts a St George’s Day festival at Trafalgar Square every year to celebrate everything that is great about England and regularly supports screenings and celebration events to bring Londoners together in honour of England’s sporting success.'
