In a first for central Government, the Cabinet Office is flying a rainbow flag to mark World Pride being held this weekend in London.
The iconic flag has been flown on the personal request of Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. Officials say that Mr Clegg thought it ‘was about time for Whitehall to bring itself up to date’ by flying the flag in solidarity with the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered) community.
Liberal Democrat Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: “There has to be a first time for everything – flying this iconic flag in the heart of Whitehall is a small but important emblem that the Government and this country are behind equal rights.
“I’m absolutely delighted that, with a little bit of persuasion and determination, we’ve been able to fly the rainbow flag for this weekend’s festivities. I hope this is the start of a new era of pride across the historic Whitehall village.”
Designed in San Francisco in 1978 by Gilbert Baker, the original flag had eight stripes instead of today’s six horizontal stripes of red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet.
Mr Clegg recently became the most senior politician to join the Out4Marriage campaign for marriage equality and yesterday said that churches and other religious institutions should be allowed perform same-sex marriages.
Subscribe
-
Follow @libdemvoice.org on Bluesky
-
Like us on Facebook
-
Subscribe to our feed
-
Sign-up for our daily email digest
Most Read
- Sarah Olney bids to become candidate for Mayor of London
- The liberalism we need: a platform for people to thrive and live their version of a best life
- Mathew on Monday: It’s time to take big money out of British politics
- Britain has too much government and too little democratic power
- Making the most of the Government’s belated action on illegal Israeli settlements
Search
Op-eds
-
London needs more social homes – and Liberal Democrat boroughs are determined to deliver (Gareth Roberts)
-
Andy Burnham’s devolution reforms go only half-way (Mark Corner)
-
Reform donations row shows how facts get trampled at Westminster (David Vigar)
-
The Independent View: Turning back the tide on free speech (Jack Coulson)
-
Britain has too much government and too little democratic power (James Dennison)
-
Lord Bonkers' Diary: Wah-wah brass and boings on the timpani
-
Elvis Costello: The Other Side of Summer
-
Government must do more to help people onto the housing ladder
-
The foxes who visited London Zoo with deadly intent
-
9 tips for speaking at a Liberal Democrat conference
-
Coyote vs. Acme: "A warm and witty and weirdly moving film"
-
The Joy of Six 1577
-
How to fix the problem of money in our politics
-
Is Reform UK self-destructing in Wales?
Recent Comments
David Raw
In terms of public accountability it's time education in England was returned to local authorities....... though I doubt very much whether the present governmen...
Simon McGrath
for those 'Patriotic Millionaires' who wish to give money to the state , its really easy: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/voluntary-payments-donations-to-governmen...
Andy Hyde
Today in a by-election in Milton Keynes electors have received five letters from Reform via Royal Mail, at an estimated cost of £20,000. As there is no mention...
Tristan Ward
We need to broaden how we define investment to recognise the value of people and skills." I think we need to redefine "capital" to include intellectual capit...
David Murray
Hi Tanya, glad to see that you are organising a fringe on the Monday evening at the Grand Hotel in Brighton. Sadly, I can't attend Conference in person, but am ...


6 Comments
Very glad to see this. It’s symbolic, while the real work is proceeding with equal marriage, international LGBT+ rights etc. across Lib Dem departments – but there’s nothing wrong with the outside of Whitehall reflecting what we’re doing on the inside in Government.
Symbolism, maybe, important definitely . It shows those on government benches who will oppose the current measures that it really is how not if with equality in the 21st century…
Religious groups should be allowed to perform same sex marriages. They should not be legally forced to do so.
Stephen W, that’s exactly the Lib Dem position on this issue.
Good on you nick. retweeted flag this morning.
Heavens, a LDV post with purely positively comments… and I add mine too: well done, Nick; we can be proud of the progress the Coalition is making in this area 🙂