EU: Covid recovery cash rules ‘heavy handed’ says expert

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The UK Government has ordered councils to raise European Union flags across England as part of a condition to receive Covid recovery cash from Brussels. RT UK host Kate Partridge branded the move “embarrassing” for the British Government, and suggested the EU’s rules appeared “heavy-handed”. Under the Welcome Back Fund, councils in towns and cities across the UK have been given £56m EU cash to “support the return to high streets safely and to build back better from the pandemic”.

However, under this scheme, councils are required to display the blue and yellow flag, even though Britain left the bloc last year.

The humiliating order comes from Brussels and is enforced by Westminster.

Despite Brexit, details of the withdrawal agreement mean that UK is still eligible for certain payments from the fund until the end of 2023 – but only if the UK follows Brussels’ rules.

This means thousands of new EU flags will be posted on official buildings and in public places across the country.

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It comes just four months after the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport announced it was repealing planning rules in a bid to make it harder to fly EU flags.

Ms Partridge discussed the scheme with Councillor professor Robert Barr, who is the Liberal Democrat group leader of the Warrington Borough.

The money will be spent on street planning, extra seating, green spaces, and the removal of graffiti.

The RT host said: “Doesn’t it seem a bit embarrassing on one hand but good news that the government took the cash?”

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Mr Barr responded: “I think it’s great news that they took the cash.

“It shouldn’t be embarrassing but the Government has intentionally made it embarrassing because they want to make this part of its culture war.

“It’s a shame because this is a really good opportunity to show we can work together sensibly with the EU even though we have left.

“As EU protocol, if EU money is used, then it is acknowledged and that seems reasonable.”

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Ms Partridge responded: “But it does sound like the EU is being a bit heavy-handed.”

Mr Barr said: “I don’t think so, they have a rule book and if we want their money we have to follow the conditions.”

Liberal Democrat frontbencher Christine Jardine said: “This shows the absurd hypocrisy of this Conservative government.

“They have spent years denouncing EU projects and pulling the UK out of funding schemes like this, and now they have the gall to trumpet a fund made possible by exactly the sort of European cooperation they are turning their backs on.

“Instead of worrying about displaying the EU flag, the government should be working hard to support the thousands of struggling high street businesses.”

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government blamed the EU, and said: “We are ramping up UK-wide domestic funding to at least match what the EU currently offers – reaching around £1.5bn a year.”

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