Now taxi drivers and shops are banned from having England flags during World Cup
Taxi drivers in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, have been told they can't fly England flags
TAXI drivers have been banned from displaying England flags on their cars because it could distract other motorists.
Drivers in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, have been warned they face a licencing committee rap if they display St George’s Cross flags.
But one local worker at City-Lynx Taxis was furious with the decision and simply argued that “flying flags is showing patriotism”.
The warning has been put in place after Barrow Borough Council public protection manager Graham Barker said flags could be a "distraction".
He said: “We don’t want taxis with clip-on flags or internal flags. It’s not allowed. It may well distract drivers of other vehicles.
“If regulations are contravened, we would contact the company to enforce them. A complaint would be passed to the licensing committee for a hearing.”
During the 2006 World Cup in Germany, drivers in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, were banned from flying flags over fears they could injure passengers.
It comes after Royal Mail banned its 125,000 posties from displaying England flags and stickers on letter trolleys, bikes, vans and lorries.
One postman in South-West London said: “It’s bonkers, frankly.”
A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “Flags should not be flown. It’s a company-wide policy across the business which covers flags and stickers and covers trollies, bikes, vans and lorries.
“Flags placed on vehicles can obscure the driver’s view. They can also pose a hazard to other road users if they are lost when the vehicle is moving.”
Meanwhile, Tesco barred staff from putting up England flags at an Express store in Hyde, Greater Manchester, local politicians said.
Andrea Colbourne, a Conservative candidate for Tameside Borough Council, in May’s local elections, tweeted: “Tesco staff at a local Express store have been told they’re not allowed to put up England flags. It’s infuriating.”
Tameside Cllr John Bell said: “It's absolute nonsense for flags to have been banned at this Tesco store.
“People want to show their support for England and should be allowed to do so.”
A Tesco spokesman would not comment on what happened at the store, but said branches were free to display flags.
One shop in Sheffield’s giant Meadowhall mall stopped using carrier bags printed with England flags following customer complaints that they were “offensive.”
Bradford Council also ordered its 8,500 staff to remove St George’s flags from council vehicles “if someone is offended”. It did a U-turn later, saying it would be “happy” for them to remain.
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Vice Admiral Sir Neville Purvis, president of The Royal Society of Saint George’s City of London branch, said: “It’s awful that people cannot display the England flag.
“The Welsh flag gets put up in Wales and the Scottish flag gets put up in Scotland. England are playing, so why can’t people put up the St George’s flag?”
A spokesman for Theresa May said: "The Prime Minister believes everybody should be able to show their support for the England football team and hopes a way can be found for people to do that."
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