A decade long campaign by Romford’s Member of Parliament to allow people to fly flags freely looks set for success.

Eric Pickles, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, announced in Parliament last Friday, January 6, the proposals to make it easier for people to fly flags without facing costly restrictions and bureaucratic red tape - some fees of which are �335.

He said: “If people want to celebrate something that’s it important to them by flying a flag, they should be able to do so without having to fill in forms or paying town hall officials for the privilege.

“We will make it easier for people to celebrate their allegiance to a cause, a county or a local organisation if they choose to do so.”

Andrew Rosindell, Romford MP and chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Flags and Heraldry Committee spent nice successful years campaigning to get the Union Flag flying every day at Parliament and on top of Romford’s Town Hall.

Mr Rosindell said: “People should be able to fly the appropriate flags without being punished, especially with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee this year.”

He believes “upholding our flag is a way of unifying the British people.”

Mr Rosindell also suggests it will “prevent extremist groups from hijacking the flag for their own purposes.

“The Union flag is a symbol that represents our history, our culture, our way of life and a flag that embodies the support of the British people.”

Under current planning rules, it is illegal to fly a national flag without permission from a local council and the only flags allowed to fly without consent, but on a flagpole are the flags of the county, the Commonwealth, any English county, the European Union, the United Nations and the patron saint of the county in which the saint is associated.