'Preposterous!' Sadiq Khan told 'stop looking backwards' after REFUSING to remove EU flag
EUROPHILE London Mayor Sadiq Khan has told to "stop looking backwards and follow the rest of the country" after he rejected calls to remove the EU flag from City Hall - despite the fact Brexit negotiations are well underway.
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Ukip London Assembly member David Kurten, who became an assembly member last year and also stands as the party's education spokesman, urged the Mr Khan to stop flying the bloc's stripes alongside the Union Flag outside City Hall.
Mr Kurten asked the Mayor: "Now that Article 50 has been triggered, will you remove the flag of the European Union from outside City Hall, as the majority of people in both England and the United Kingdom voted to leave, and it is inappropriate for the Mayor of our capital city to fly the flag of a foreign power?"
The London Mayor refuses to remove the EU flag from City Hall
In response, Mr Khan dismissed the Ukip assembly member’s request, telling him: "While the UK is still part of the European Union, I will continue to fly the EU flag."
Reacting to the London Mayor's comments, Mr Kurten said: “It is preposterous that the Mayor continues to fly the EU flag outside City Hall in London. The people of the United Kingdom decided to leave the EU in the referendum.
"The majority of the country is looking forwards to the future where Britain will make new trade deals and form new partnerships around the world.
"I would encourage the Mayor to stop looking backwards, and follow the rest of the country in looking forwards to a bright Brexit future. I look forward to the Mayor heeding my advice and taking down the EU flag from City Hall.”
Last year Ukip assembly member Peter Whittle made a similar request just days before the Brexit vote.
The LGBT flag has recently appeared outside City Hall to celebrate Pride in London
The Mayor’s response, published days after the EU Referendum, read: "The people of Britain have voted to leave the EU and their democratic will must now be fulfilled.
"Our city will continue to look outwards and trade and engage with the entire world – including the European Union – and we will continue to fly the EU flag outside City Hall.
"I believe it also sends an important message to the almost one million Europeans living in London, who make a huge contribution to our city.
"It will take time to negotiate an exit. For now, the UK and London are still part of the European Union."
Mr Khan enraged Brexiteers in the months before the landmark vote by installing the EU flag alongside the Union flag for the first time to represent his own pro-Remain views.
Mr Whittle reacted angrily to Mr Khan’s move and questioned why the London Mayor had not opted for an English flag, keeping London in line with Cardiff and Edinburgh which both sport the national flags of Wales and Scotland respectively outside the devolved parliaments.
The EU & Union flags outside City Hall, infront of Tower Bridge
I would encourage the Mayor to stop looking backwards, and follow the rest of the country in looking forwards to a bright Brexit future
He said: “London is the capital of England and we know full well that the Scottish and Welsh flags fly from their capital cities. So why not England? Seems to me to be most inappropriate.
“Speaking of flags I would also note that since the abolition of the Greater London Council in 1986, there has been no coat of arms or flag or other symbol created for Greater London other than the flag for City Hall. There is a flag and coat of arms for the City of London but not for Greater London.
“Perhaps there should be one and I would think that might be something we could open up to a competition of all Londoners to design so that we can fly a flag at City Hall all of London can rally behind.”
Ukip's David Kurten has urged Mr Khan to remove the flag
Many shared images of the Queen wearing the hat next to pictures of the EU flag in an attempt to show the similarity.
One Twitter user wrote: "SO...the queen gave a speech in the Parliament wearing a peculiar hat. Tongue in cheek heh?"
Another said: "Is the Queen sending a message by wearing a 'European' hat? Blue with gold stars?"