Scotland and Wales 'not treated equal' in sport says guest

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Councillor Keith Jones, chair of the city council’s planning committee, responded to a 20,000-strong petition blocking plans for a huge eight-storey Union Jack on a city-centre building. The petition, which was started by Welsh independence campaigners YesCymru, calls upon Cllr Jones to withdraw approval for the development, which is classed as an advertisement.

The petition states: “Visitors, commuters and residents should not be faced with a gigantic Union Jack on arrival at Cardiff Central.

“This decision is an act of political symbolism designed to promote ‘muscular unionism’ a reminder to the people of Wales of their subservient status in the United Kingdom.

“This flag does not represent the people of Wales and is a blatant political act designed to act as a provocation to its people.”

Cllr Jones wrote in a letter of response: “The article (“20k petition goes in against Union flag”) omitted a fundamental aspect, namely that Cardiff’s planning committee has never had any involvement with the granting of permission for an advertisement on a UK Government office in the centre of Cardiff.

“Just as I and the planning committee that I chair had no legal involvement in the issuing of planning permission, neither do we have any legal authority to withdraw approval for the development that has been lawfully issued.

“If YesCymru seek to be seen as a credible voice for how Wales should be run, they would do well to gain a fuller understanding of how Cardiff, Wales’ capital city, is governed and how decisions are made.”

The Union Jack will measure 32 metres in height by nine metres in width and will be draped on the newly constructed Ty William Morgan building.

The building will be home to staff from the Wales Office, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Department for International Trade, cabinet office and more.

The building also has the capacity to host full UK cabinet meetings, WalesOnline reports.

Cardiff Council leader, Huw Thomas, said he is “personally not convinced of the merits of this proposal”.

He said: “If the UK Government believe having a highly visible Union flag is a key component of the new Hub in Central Square, then I would highlight the situation at the Welsh Office’ London HQ, where the Union flag and the Red Dragon are given equal status above the building.

“It is really important in my view that the Red Dragon be given the same equal treatment at their office in Cardiff, and I will be writing to the Secretary of State for Wales to make that case.”

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BBC presenter Huw Edwards also weighed in on the debate tweeting: “I’m not allowed to comment on political or flag matters” followed by a Welsh flag and smirking face emoji.

A UK Government spokesperson said: “Ty William Morgan is a significant UK Government building and is the first of its kind in Wales.

“As is practice with similar UK Government sites across the United Kingdom and around the world, it will feature the Union flag as part of its visual branding.

“The flag of Wales is flown at Ty William Morgan which also contains other specifically Welsh branding, while the name of the new building was chosen to reflect the UK Government’s investment in Wales and Welsh culture.”

Additional reporting by Thomas Deacon.

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