Councillor criticises Pride flag in Falklands memorial garden in Gosport
A row has broken out over flying the Pride flag in a military memorial garden during June
A councillor has criticised the display of the Pride flag in a memorial garden honouring Falklands veterans.
Cllr Philip Sparrow, a Falklands veteran and Reform UK ward member for Hardway, claimed that it undermines the purpose of the memorial.
Cllr Sparrow, who served on HMS Hermes with 800 Squadron Sea Harriers during the conflict, said the gardens are dedicated to those who served in the Falklands.
He claimed that the Liberal Democrats and previous Labour councillors “decided that the Pride flag would replace the Falklands flag”.
However, Gosport Borough Council confirmed this is not the case.
The council said that the Falklands flag is flown from the garden, between April 2 and June 14, marking the start and end of the conflict.
The Pride flag is currently flying in place of the borough flag. When the Falklands flag is lowered on June 15, it will be replaced by the borough flag.
Meanwhile, the Union flag remains in place outside council offices. The council said this is “an established and consistent practice.”
Cllr Sparrow said: “No other flags should take priority over the Union, Falklands, Borough, or indeed the St George’s flag in a memorial garden. Other flags can be flown from the Town Hall; I have no problem with diversity.”
He also criticised the Liberal Democrats, and said: “The Liberal Democrats posted on social media that Reform UK can change it, but we do not run the council.”
Conservative council leader Cllr Zoe Huggins defended the current arrangements and said the Falklands flag is flown annually during a set period of remembrance.
She said: “We fully recognise and respect the significance of the Falklands conflict, and the service and sacrifice of all those involved. For clarity, the Falkland Islands flag is flown in the Memorial Gardens each year from April 2 to June 14, marking the start of the conflict through to Liberation Day.”
Cllr Huggins added that the flag is lowered on June 15 and replaced as part of a wider programme of commemorations, including Armed Forces Day.
She said: “The Memorial Gardens remain a place of remembrance at all times, and this arrangement in no way diminishes the importance of the Falklands conflict, or the service of those who served”.
Reform Gosport said they are keen to hear the views of residents about the flags in the Memorial Gardens, and said the council does not currently have a formal flag policy.