Can you fly the England flag during the World Cup and will No 10 Downing Street display the St George’s cross?

WORLD Cup fever has spread across the country - and with it, the unfurling of thousands of England flags.

But not all are so keen on the red and white expression of patriotism. Here is why some are laying down the law.

What's the law on flying England flags during the World Cup 2018?

It is not illegal to fly the England flag in the UK.

The Government made changes to regulations in 2012 which widens the types of flags you may fly in Britain - not necessarily just from cars and other vehicles.

• Any country’s national flag, civil ensign or civil air ensign
• The flag of the Commonwealth, the European Union, the United Nations or any other international organisation of which the United Kingdom is a member
• A flag of any island, county, district, borough, burgh, parish, city, town or village within the United Kingdom
• The flag of the Black Country, East Anglia, Wessex, any Part of Lincolnshire, any Riding of Yorkshire or any historic county within the United Kingdom
• The flag of Saint David
• The flag of Saint Patrick
• The flag of any administrative area within any country outside the United Kingdom
• Any flag of Her Majesty’s forces
• The Armed Forces Day flag

Club and company flags are also permitted to fly as is the Pride rainbow flag.

All flag flying, including England flags during the World Cup, are subject to standard conditions.

These are that all flags must be:

• Be kept in a safe condition
• Have the permission of the owner of the site on which they are displayed (this
  includes the Highway Authority if the sign is to be placed on highway land)
• Not obscure, or hinder the interpretation of official road, rail, waterway or aircraft
  signs, or otherwise make hazardous the use of these types of transport
• Be removed carefully where so required by the planning authority
  

Is No10 going to fly a St George's cross?

After pressure from this newspaper the Prime Minister said there will be a St George’s flag proudly flying above Number 10 when the Three Lions take to the field in Russia.

She made the announcement in the House of Commons after a question from patriotic MP Nick Boles, who joined forces with The Sun to issue the call to send Harry Kane’s men the strongest possible message of support.

May said: “I can assure my Right Honourable Friend that Number 10 will be flying the England flag on the day of each of England's matches from now on.”

On extending that along Whitehall the PM added: “And we will be encouraging other Government Departments to do the same.

Is it illegal for Post Office workers and taxi drivers?

Barrow Borough Council's public protection manager Graham Barker said flags displayed on taxis 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.”

It comes after Royal Mail banned its 125,000 posties from displaying England flags and stickers on letter trolleys, bikes, vans and lorries.

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.”

Tesco denied this was the case and said all its stores were free to show their support for the England team.

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.

How have people responded?

Rival taxi outfit Zoom has dubbed the ban in Barrow as "unnecessary, foolish and not in the spirit of the World Cup.”

A statement from the company said: “Drivers do this for a living: they are unlikely to get distracted by a small piece of material when they spend their days with their eyes on the road getting people safely from A to B.

“And this ban doesn’t stop private drivers from displaying national symbols so I cannot see what the point is despite the council employing total killjoys."

A postie in South West London called the Royal Mail's decision as "bonkers".

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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