Background: Stroud District Council (SDC), after receiving several complaints about energy company Ecotricity displaying a Palestinian flag on its Stroud HQ building, has asked the company to apply for planning permission.
Stroud District Green Party was subsequently asked by a journalist if this action by minority Green-led SDC conflicted with the local Green Party’s earlier statement in support of the Palestinians.
The following is our response:
“Councils – as the local planning authorities – are required to abide by national government planning legislation around which flags are allowed to be displayed.
The Council had received public complaints about the Ecotricity flag, so SDC officers were obliged to take advice on the matter. This confirmed that the Palestinian flag is not listed among those with automatic or deemed consent, because Palestine is not a state recognised by the UK Government (unlike in 147 of 193 UN Member States). As a result, the Council has had to invite Ecotricity to submit a planning application for the flag on its building.
Unfortunately, this disappointing outcome is not a matter where political leadership can intervene: councillors, even those who are part of a council’s administration, have no influence over this aspect of planning policy – rightly so, as politics should be kept out of such planning decisions.
Regardless of the action SDC is required to take as Local Planning Authority under national legislation, the Green group of councillors and the rest of Stroud District Green Party support Ecotricity in the decision to display the Palestinian flag on their building. The Ecotricity flag is a symbol of solidarity with the Palestinian people, and a protest against the violations of international law and the catastrophic violence being inflicted on them by the Israeli government. We join with Ecotricity in calling for an end to the genocide in Gaza and we share their support for all civilians caught up in the conflict. We will be writing to Dale Vince to express this support.
The Greens believe that this situation highlights the pressing need for the UK government to formally recognise the State of Palestine.
Recognising Palestine is a vital step towards justice, equality and a sustainable peace. It demonstrates a commitment to international law and a balanced approach to the region.”