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Government department spends hundreds of pounds on Union flags

Kate PlummerMar 27, 2021 AFP via Getty Images A government department has spent hundreds of pounds of taxpayers’ money on flags, indy100 can reveal. According to transparency data released by the government yesterday, the Department for Transport spent £700.80 on four Union Flags in December, to be placed at their headquarters. It comes days after the government announced that the union flag should be flown from all UK government buildings every day, and local councils were advised to do the same. Culture secretary Oliver Dowden said the flag will act as “a proud reminder of our history and the ties that bind us.” (Lucky us). Writing on Twitter, he added:RT @OliverDowden: People rightly expect the union flag to be flown above UK Government buildings. Now that will happen every day unless a… — Kilsally (Alan Day) (@Kilsally (Alan Day)) 1616627538 Read more:Wendy’s chicken sandwich nightmare sparks fierce TikTok debatePriti Patel gets the meme treatment after Home Office spends £77,000 on eyebrowsThe key people moving to GB News and who else is rumoured to be joining themThese maps and images show exactly what went wrong with Ever Given in the Suez Currently, the flag is raised on around 20 “designated days” such as the birthdays of senior members of the royal family. As well as this, government ministers are increasingly placing the flag in their homes and offices to be visible in the background during TV interviews, causing derision from some on the left who are both wincing at the bombastic display of patriotism, and worrying that the Conservative government is modelling itself on a U.S style of politics. Journalist Will Hutton, for instance, said:I’ve lived in a Britain relaxed about its patriotism for 70 years. Now the government wants an Union Jack flown on… https://t.co/0UhTf3msuG — Will Hutton (@Will Hutton) 1616631564 While producer Jolyon Rubinstein added:With Salmon exports to EU down 98%, Beef down 92%, Cheese down 85%, Pork down 86% & All food & drink down 75.5% the… https://t.co/kADSuWYlby — Jolyon Rubinstein (@Jolyon Rubinstein) 1616667114 The Department of Transport purchased its flags from an aptly named company, Flags and Flagpoles. As people return to their offices, we are sure they will be thrilled to learn about the use of their hard-earned money. More: NCAA basketball player’s TikTok goes viral for shedding light on gender inequality

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