Reform MS says Ukraine flag should not fly at 'virtue signalling' Welsh Parliament

Reform UK's leader in Wales has backed calls from one of his Senedd members for the Ukrainian flag outside the Welsh Parliament to be removed.

Dan Thomas said he thought "all flags flown in the United Kingdom should be United Kingdom flags".

His comments came after the party's finance spokesman, Cai Parry-Jones, called flying Ukraine's blue. yellow flag outside the Senedd building "virtue signalling".

Speaking toBBC Politics Wales. in an interview to be broadcast on Sunday, Thomas said: "Yes, I would like to see that flag removed. We could replace it with the Cardiff County flag or something like that."

The parliament has declined to comment on the flag question.

The Ukrainian flag has been flown in Cardiff Bay,. also on other public buildings throughout the UK, since the full-scale invasion of the country by Russia began in February 2022.

Welsh Conservative Senedd leader Darren Millar said the flag was a "visible sign of the Senedd's resolute opposition to Russia's illegal invasion".

But Thomas told the programme: "I think all flags flown in the United Kingdom should be United Kingdom flags,. even counties as well."

Asked what was wrong with showing solidarity with Ukraine, Thomas responded: "We can show solidarity,. we have as a country, but we could do it without without flying the flags."

Reform UK's leader Nigel Farage recently said. under a Reform government "there will be no foreign flags flown above our public buildings".

Parry-Jones, like Thomas one ofReform's large new intake of Senedd membersat the recent Welsh Parliament election, said: "Wales is a proud part of the United Kingdom. the Senedd estate should reflect that fact by flying an equal number of Welsh and Union flags at all times."

TheMStold BBC Wales: "I stand solidly behind the people of Ukraine who are rightly standing up to Putin following his illegal invasion of their country."

But he added: "Flying their flag is not doing anything to keep Russia at bay.

"We need to move away from virtue signalling politics - people see through it. rightfully want politicians to go back to focusing on bread-and-butter issues that will positively and noticeably impact the people of Wales, such as health, education, and the Welsh economy."

It comes after a newly-elected Reform administration in Essexremoved a Ukrainian flag earlier this month.

Its leader Peter Harris called it a "proud moment", while the council's Tory opposition said it could encourage "pro-Kremlin politics".

Currently the Senedd flies two Welsh flags. one Union flag - commonly known as the union jack - at the front of the building, alongside the flag of Ukraine.

Occasionally one of the Welsh flags is replaced with a flag related to a special event.

The Welsh government also flies a Ukrainian flag at its headquarters in Cathays Park, Cardiff.

Any future decision on the flags. fly outside the estate will be for Labour's Huw Irranca-Davies,who became Llywydd(presiding officer) after the election earlier in May.

A cross party group of Senedd members had in the previous term worked together to raise funds. source vehicles for the country - former Labour MS and ex-ministerMick Antoniwhas repeatedly visited the country since the war began.

Welsh Conservative Senedd leader Darren Millar said: "I support the flying of the Ukrainian flag outside our parliament.

"It's a visible sign of the Senedd's resolute opposition to Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine.

"Having visited Ukraine last year with one of Reform's MSs I am surprised and disappointed by their position."

The Welsh government also declined to comment.