The ruling party on Sunderland City Council has assured the public that an Armed Forces Day flag will be flown over city hall next month.

Sunderland MP Bridget Phillipson has accused Reform UK of putting political point-scoring ahead of Sunderland’s veterans, after the party said that only the Union flag, the St George's Cross and county flags would be flown on public buildings.

She had claimed a veterans’ flag would therefore not be flown on Armed Forces Day, which takes place on June 27.

But Cllr Ciera Hudspith, Portfolio Holder for Culture, Tourism and Heritage at Sunderland City Council, said that was not the case.

The St George's flag will now fly on top of Sunderland City Hall 365 days a year.

placeholder image — The St George's flag will now fly on top of Sunderland City Hall 365 days a year.

She explained: “We, of course, consider the Armed Forces Day flag to be a civic flag. It represents our nation’s heritage and honours the men and women who have served to keep our country safe. It will, of course, be flown on Armed Forces Day.”

The newly elected Reform UK council revealed this week that no Pride flag would be flown from Sunderland City Hall.

This aligns with their national party’s policy to ban all flags except the Union flag, the St George's Cross and county flags from being flown on public buildings.

Cllr Hudspith said: “Any flag flown outside a governing body should represent our nation and our country as a whole, not a sectional interest.

The Armed Forces Day flag flying over city hall last year. It will do so again this year.

“Time and time again on the doorstep, residents told us they were confused as to why England’s flag was not flying outside City Hall all year round.

“Today, it is an honour and a privilege to raise the flag of St George at the heart of our great city.

“The council’s flagpoles will be reserved for national and civic flags that represent our country, heritage and wider community as a whole. For that reason, the Pride flag will never be flown outside City Hall.”