It's extremely unlikely that this has anything to do with political correctness. I think it very much more likely that it's because I criticised the council for imposing a 47% increase in rents.
As it happens Newbury Town Council do fly a St. George Flag from the Town Hall on St. Georges Day - because two years ago I asked them to! Here's what I said:
Policy and Resources Committee 21 April 200871. QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
Mr Simon Kirby asked the following question:
“There's an item before you tonight to consider the policy for flying flags from the
Town Hall flag pole.
The policy being recommended to you tonight is the Department for Culture, Media
and Sport's rules for national government building such as prisons, research
establishments and VAT offices. These rules have no application to Town Halls
which are free to fly whatever flag they choose, constrained only by the Town and
Country Planning regulations that flags other than national and county flags require
planning permission.
By all means let's fly the Union Flag on the Queen's birthday, but St. George's Day
is the English national day so please fly the Cross of St. George on Wednesday.
But this is the Newbury Town Hall. The flag pole is a great opportunity to celebrate
Newbury's civic pride with some local colour. How about we choose appropriate
days to fly the arms of Newbury's four twin towns, and then celebrate some of
Newbury's excellent institutions such as the Racecourse, Newbury Rugby club, The
Kennet and Avon Canal, Vodafone, Newbury Weekly News, St Barts and Park House
Schools, and of course a flag in National Allotments Week!
You could fly the Berkshire County flag without any additional permission, or better
still commission a Newbury flag and get planning permission to fly that, or fly one
for the specific institution.
It might also be nice to invite suggestions from the public for a couple of other flag
days so that Newbury can respect other events such as flying the Rainbow Flag in
Gay Pride Week”.