Why Pride flag for D-Day at Hereford Town Hall?

An explanation has been offered as to why Hereford’s Town Hall was flying a Pride flag rather than the Union Flag on the morning of June 6, the widely marked 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

A spokesperson for Herefordshire Council, which owns the prominent city-centre building, said: “Unfortunately it [the Union Flag] was unable to be raised at Hereford Town Hall until lunchtime.”

However the Union Flag had flown from the nearby Shirehall, which the county council also owns, “for the whole day to mark D Day”, the spokesperson said.

“The Union Flag will now remain raised at both the Shirehall and Hereford Town Hall until after The King’s official birthday on Saturday June 15,” they added.

Part of the ornate grade II* listed city-centre building in St Owen Street is used by Hereford City Council.

Its newly appointed mayor Coun Kevin Tillett said: “My understanding is Herefordshire Council decided to leave the flag on the Town Hall and raise the Union Flag on the Shire Hall.

“However, following complaints, a suitably-trained person did change the Town Hall flag later in the day.”

The oversight has been widely criticised on local social media.