EU flag to continue flying above Edinburgh City Chambers despite Brexit

The Council of Europe flag, associated with the EU, flying at City Chambers in Edinburgh

The European flag will continue to fly at City Chambers despite Scotland and the UK leaving the EU, the Capital’s Lord Provost has announced.

The UK formally left the European Union on January 31 following the 2016 Brexit referendum. Edinburgh City Council was set to debate whether the flag of the Council of Europe will remain aloft the authority’s civic headquarters after Green Cllr Alex Staniforth put forward a motion.

Cllr Staniforth had tabled a motion at Thursday’s full council meeting, noting that in the 2016 EU referendum, “Edinburgh was the most remain-supporting city in the UK” with 74.4 per cent of citizens voting to remain in the UK.

Cllr Staniforth had called that “to mark our city’s strong wish to remain in the EU, the Council of Europe flag should be flown from the City Chambers every day until Edinburgh is part of the EU again”. He added that there would be exceptions on days where flying a flag to mark or commemorate a specific day of celebration or remembrance made it “impossible”.

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Conservative group leader Cllr Iain Whyte had told councillors that “I don’t think we wish to take part in a debate about flags”, before Cllr Staniforth withdrew the motion after being reassured by the Lord Provost Frank Ross that the symbol will remain above City Chambers.

The Lord Provost said: “The flag currently flying from our City Chambers, whilst commonly known as the EU flag, is in fact also the flag of the Council of Europe. This has been in existence since 1955 and as the UK will continue to be a member of the Council of Europe, we will continue to fly this flag.”

The news was welcomed by Cllr Staniforth.

He said: “I am very pleased that the Lord Provost has pledged to continue flying the flag of the Council of Europe above the City Chambers.

“Edinburgh voted by three to one to remain in the EU but it isn’t just about reflecting the city’s clear political direction. It is important that we remind the tens of thousands of EU citizens living in Edinburgh that their city values, wants and needs them – that as a city we will always strive to maintain their rights and security. This sends an important message that Edinburgh remains an international and inclusive city.”

The message was echoed by council leader Cllr Adam McVey.

He added: “The Lord Provost is right to ensure the flag of the Council of Europe flies above City Chambers – not only because our country is still a member but because it sends a strong message of internationalism from our Capital city to the world and, more importantly, serves as another reminder of the welcome and value of the 40,000 EU citizens who call Edinburgh home.”

But Conservatives said the authority should be concentrating on improving council services, rather than symbolic gestures.

Conservative group chairman, Cllr Jason Rust, said: “The flag was first unveiled as the flag of the Council of Europe and remains as such. The Council of Europe has nearly 50 member states and is responsible for the European Court of Human Rights of which we remain a member.

“Effectively in that regard nothing is changing so this was simply a manufactured argument and attempting to create a row where none exists. Focus would have been better on values than symbolism. Frankly the whole flag issue was simply a distraction from fundamental city council business. Residents would prefer we were concentrating on flagstones not flags.”