British Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has instructed local councils run by her party not to fly the ultra-woke ‘Progress Pride’ flag—but indicated that the older pride flag is fine.
In recent years, many progressive organisations have abandoned the traditional six-stripe rainbow flag in favour of the Progress Pride flag, a newer design that supposedly incorporates transgender colours, stripes representing ethnic minorities, and an intersex emblem.
However, in an email to Conservative-run councils, seen by the Mail, party chairman Kevin Hollinrake writes:
The original Rainbow Pride flag has come to be widely recognised as a symbol of respect and inclusion for gay people.
The so-called Progress flag, by contrast, was explicitly designed to represent a broader set of political and ideological causes.
Its additional symbols are associated with contested ideas about gender identity, critical race theory, and social justice. Rather than uniting communities, the Progress flag is a symbol of identity politics, atomising society into different and divisive identities.
The guidance comes after Westminster City Council, which the Conservatives reclaimed from Labour at last month’s local elections, was seen flying the Progress Pride flag above its Victoria Street offices. The council’s leader even tweeted a video of the flag being hoisted.
The Pride 🌈 flag is flying at @CityWestminster HQ today for Pride month. The LGBTQIA+ community is a key part of Westminster's history so let's celebrate their contribution. #PrideMonth pic.twitter.com/lOLE7b69Y6
— Westminster City Council Leader (@Leader_WCC) June 1, 2026
The Mail reports that the banner was quickly taken down and replaced with the ‘traditional’ rainbow flag once it was noticed.
The Conservative Party’s position is in stark contrast to Reform UK, which has imposed a blanket ban on all Pride flags at council buildings under its control.
Last week, two local authorities controlled by Nigel Farage’s party moved to restrict Pride-related displays and events as part of a broader policy limiting the use of political and campaign flags on public property.
In the London borough of Havering, council leaders cancelled an annual Pride flag-raising ceremony that had marked the start of Pride Month for almost a decade. The authority also reiterated Reform UK’s policy that council buildings should generally fly only the Union Flag, the St George’s Cross, and flags honouring the armed forces and veterans.
Meanwhile, Reform-run Essex County Council instructed its 74 libraries to suspend the promotion of Pride Month activities through official council communication channels.
The episode highlights how far Britain’s political debate has shifted. Rather than questioning whether Pride flags belong on public buildings, the Conservative Party is now debating which Pride flag should be flown.
Reform UK, by contrast, has opted for a far simpler answer: none of them.