Clash over rainbow flag flying including over ‘Gentleman Jack’ home

Calderdale Council has posted on its social media that in “Pride Month, we celebrate Calderdale as a place where everyone, regardless of who they are or who they love, is valued and free to be themselves.”

But Labour councillor Sarah Courtney (Hebden Bridge and Todmorden East) claims the council’s new Reform UK administration has “refused to fly the Pride flag from any council buildings during Pride Month, including at Shibden Hall, an iconic place and the setting for Sally Wainwright’s hugely successful Gentleman Jack TV series.”

Leader of the Council, Coun Dan Sutherland (Reform UK, Illingworth and Mixenden) has responded: “We are proud to fly the Union Flag from the Town Hall throughout the year, to represent all the people of the borough, and we continue to celebrate Calderdale as a place where everyone is valued.”

His administration was concentrating on what people wanted prioritising, he said.

Earlier in the week, the council had posted: “The Mayor of Calderdale, Councillor Andrew Tagg, has formally approved the flying of the Union Flag at Halifax Town Hall throughout the year, as of today.

“This is a mark of respect to all the peoples of our great nation.”

On social media, Coun Courtney noted the post last week did make it clear that only the Union flag will be flown from Halifax Town hall.

But she said that does not affect other venues and specifically referred to Shibden Hall, home of Anne Lister, “whose life and diaries have given Halifax and Calderdale an international place in LGBT+ history,” she said.

Coun Courtney said: “People have asked me whether Calderdale Council will be flying a Pride flag from any of its buildings to celebrate LGBT+ Pride Month.

“I have asked Dan Sutherland, Reform’s Council Leader, and his Cabinet, this question, including providing a rationale of how Pride flags help promote inclusion and act as a visible marker of safety, solidarity and allyship.

“Measures to promote inclusion can help toward improving the health and wellbeing of people who face discrimination.

“While it does not single-handedly erase systemic discrimination, flying a Pride flag is a low-cost, high-impact action that provides comfort to vulnerable individuals, normalises diversity, and challenges social stigma,” she said.

Coun Courtney added: “The Pride flag does not exclude anybody, it just signifies that everyone is welcome.

“Sadly, Coun Sutherland and the new administration have refused to fly the Pride flag from any council buildings during Pride Month, including at Shibden Hall, an iconic place and the setting for Sally Wainwright’s hugely successful Gentleman Jack TV series.

“It was the home of Anne Lister.

“Visitors travel from across the UK and around the world to learn about her life and legacy,” she said.

She said she “respectfully disagreed” with Reform that only the Union Flag can represent everyone in Calderdale and that other flags and symbols can be divisive.

Reform UK Calderdale have said policy on which flags can be flown from council buildings – a protocol was approved by councillors late last year on this – is likely to be reviewed.

In response to Coun Courtney, Coun Sutherland said his administration was committed to service delivery to deliver change people wanted to see prioritised.

“We’re committed to delivering services that make a difference to local people, with our priorities centring around value for money, the condition of our roads, crime and anti-social behaviour, fly-tipping and cleaner streets, and housing.

“As we deliver the change that people are eager to see, our focus is on these priority issues.

“We are proud to fly the Union Flag from the Town Hall throughout the year, to represent all the people of the borough, and we continue to celebrate Calderdale as a place where everyone is valued,” he said.