Reform UK MP under fire after saying Progress Pride flag should be banned from public buildings

Rupert Lowe, the Reform UK MP, has come under fire on X, formerly Twitter, after saying the Progress Pride flag should be banned from public buildings, including hospitals and schools.

In the July 2024 general election, Lowe won Reform UK a seat in Parliament after standing for the Great Yarmouth constituency, gaining 35.3% of the vote, beating Labour into second place.

Writing on X, Lowe said: “This flag should not be on display in hospitals, schools and other public sector institutions. If private individuals wish to display their views, that’s fine – but not when taxpayer money is involved. Keep politics out of the public sector.”

The Progress Pride flag was developed in 2018 by non-binary American artist and designer Daniel Quasar. Based on the iconic rainbow flag from 1978, the redesign celebrates the diversity of the LGBTQ community and calls for a more inclusive society.

In a speech made in September 2024, Lowe criticised devolution and legal migration levels, and diversity related roles, saying: “Let’s scrap every diversity related role in a vastly reduced public sector and judge people on merit.”