Driving Licence Flag War Spreads

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

We highlighted last year in Celtic News the controversy the Westminster government had caused by insisting that the Union Flag would be displayed on all new driving licences issued in England, Scotland and Wales.

David Cameron well assuming the Scots and Welsh would roll-over sensibly stopped short of imposing this latest piece of imperialist jingoism on the North of Ireland.

The first reaction was in Scotland where stick-over Saltire flags were applied despite threats from the DVLA. Now things are spreading!

Here’s the release we issued last year;

“ANGER AT UNION FLAG ON DRIVING LICENCES PLAN

A decision to replace the EU symbol on United Kingdom driving licences with the Union Flag has provoked outrage in Scotland and Wales.

The changes which apply to England, Scotland and Wales only will according to English Prime Minister, David Cameron, provide road users with a symbolic ‘sign of their national identity’.

Cameron ruled out allowing National flags for Wales and Scotland on ‘cost grounds’.
However the move coming just after 45% of Scots voted to assert their own Scottish national identity is seen by some to be both triumphalist and insensitive.

The UK Flag for UK driving licences argument also does not ring true as the English Prime Minister has pointedly ruled out the move being applied to the six counties of Ulster. The Union Flag is already the subject of enough controversy in Ulster and a decision to inflame tensions further was obviously, and prudently, a step too far even for the arrogant Mr Cameron.

Petitions in Scotland and Wales have already generated 10,000 and 3000 signatures respectively.

Scottish petition link here:

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/…/stop-westminster-from-forcin…

Welsh petition link here:

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/…/cadw-jac-yr-undeb-o-r-drwydd…#

Bizarrely, Cameron’s move is likely to spectacularly backfire. Recruitment to the Nationalist Party’s in Scotland and Wales which has enjoyed a surge (particularly in Scotland) of late is certain to be further stimulated.

J B Moffatt (Mr)

Director of Information
04/01/15”

Now the controversy is being ratcheted up further with the decision of Welsh publishing house Y Lolfa to produce Welsh flags just exactly the right size to stick over the Union Flag on the licence.

The move has prompted a warning from the DVLA which in our experience will be the equivalent of ‘pouring petrol on the fire’ over this sensitive issue.

The issue is an emotive one. A Y Lolfa customer who now uses the Red Dragon flag stick-over told the media:

“I am Welsh, and the flag of my nation is the Red Dragon, not the Union Jack.

“The people of England are welcome to pay tribute to the Union Jack if they so wish, but I fully oppose any decision that forces me to do the same.

“This is what the government in London is trying to do by insisting that a Union Jack be on every new driver’s licence.

“This is a purely political move, by using a document that should be completely apolitical.”

We will continue to update you on this story particularly as the ‘flags war’ develops!

BERNARD MOFFATT

Issued by: The Celtic News

02/02/16

THE CELTIC LEAGUE INFORMATION SERVICE.

The Celtic League established in 1961 has branches in the six Celtic Countries. It promotes cooperation between the countries and campaigns on a range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It highlights human rights abuse, military activity and socio-economic issues

http://celticleague.net