A Reform-led council in a Kentish village has run into a dilemma over whether to allow a parish council to put up public Christmas lights.
‘Beyond ironic’: Reform-led council says flags must come down so Christmas lights can go up
— The Guardian (@theguardian.com) November 3, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Kent County Council has instructed Harrietsham Parish Council to make sure all Union and Saint George’s flags have been removed from lampposts before the lights are attached – for health and safety reasons.
The flags along the A20 had been praised by Reform UK politicians as a sign of patriotism, so the latest Reform climbdown is more than a little embarrassing for them.
Harrietsham Parish Council posted this update to their website.
Forget ‘Daddy or chips?’ – the big choice in Kent is ‘Flags or Christmas?’
1.
You’d need a heart of gammon not to laugh…
— James O’Brien (@mrjamesob.bsky.social) November 3, 2025 at 1:52 PM
2.
It’s finally happened.
Christmas cancelled in Kent because Operation Raise the Colours tatty lamp post flags prevent the Christmas lights going up.
www.harrietshamparishcouncil.gov.uk/community/ha…
— Otto English (@ottoenglish.bsky.social) November 3, 2025 at 1:46 PM
3.
Reform-run Council Cancels Christmas… And, at significant cost.
I would say you couldn’t make it up. But unfortunately Reform can and did. ~AA
— Best for Britain (@bestforbritain.org) November 3, 2025 at 2:09 PM
4.
So, the Reform council now running Kent is telling their “patriotic” supporters to take their flags down or Christmas is cancelled (but they’d still have to pay for it!)
Hilarious— ianlineham.bsky.social (@ianlineham.bsky.social) November 3, 2025 at 2:14 PM
5.
The Law of Unintended Consequences always comes good. I love it.
— As Sparks Fly Upwards (@fitzjohn.bsky.social) November 3, 2025 at 7:52 PM
6.
Down with flags, up with the fairy lights is a campaign I could fully and enthusiastically support!!!!
— girlwiththemessyhair (@girlwithmessyhair.bsky.social) November 3, 2025 at 2:11 PM
7.
“Cancel the kitchen scraps for lepers and orphans, no more merciful beheadings, and call off Christmas.”
— Steve B (@stevebasnett.bsky.social) November 3, 2025 at 2:23 PM
8.
Do you think the whole phoney-patriot endeavour is, erm, flagging?
— Sir Basil (@sirbasil.bsky.social) November 3, 2025 at 2:02 PM
9.
I hate those fucking idiots. “Colours” has a specific meaning, for the military, flags that were originally leadership and rallying points with their own bodyguards, now ceremonial with battle honours and insignia, not some shitty polyester spunk-crusted rags affixed to lamp-posts with zipties.
— Old Hobbit (@oldhobbit.bsky.social) November 3, 2025 at 3:19 PM
10.
Christmas or flags? The great Reform dilema.
— Memorial Device (@memorialdevice.bsky.social) November 3, 2025 at 10:20 AM
11.
Christmas cancelled because of banners celebrating a Turkish migrant!
— Old Hobbit (@oldhobbit.bsky.social) November 3, 2025 at 3:20 PM
