ONE of the first acts of Thurrock Council's new Reform UK administration is to order officers to lower the flag of Ukraine, which has flown outside the town hall in Grays as a gesture of support for the country invaded by Russian forces in 2022.

In a statement issued this evening (Monday, 18 May) and issued by former group leader Cllr Alex Anderson, who has been replaced by former multi-party councillor Richard Bingley, said: "Thurrock Council officers have been tasked with replacing the flag of Ukraine flying over the main council building in Grays."

It went on to quite Cllr Bingley, saying: "We will be ensuring that the three flags flown on the Thurrock Borough Council building will reflect our local, regional and national geography and heritage.

"We live in Thurrock. We are a part of Essex. And we are proud to be British.

"We will not support the flying of selective and sectionalist flags, no matter how emotive or compelling the cause might be.

The Ukraine flag was still flying at midday on Tuesday.

"Public flags should unite. They shouldn't divide.

"Nigel Farage's own statement in support of the new Essex administration's decision to do likewise last week, mirrors and underpins our policy and the reset back to patriotic common-sense here in Thurrock.

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"I've already asked the Thurrock Council Managing Director to instigate this change."