MPs unite to keep the flag flying

The Cross of St George is everywhere. Flying from houses, offices, pubs and cars, the country has become a virtual sea of flags in a frenzy of anticipation over England's Euro 2004 opening match against France.

Now furious MPs have attacked the mean-spirited authorities, which are determined to spoil the party by enforcing the small print of licencing regulations.

They said it was "crazy" that local councils had banned taxis and hire cars from flying the English flag and threatened drivers with £1,000 fines - at a time when the national football team was competing in such a major tournament.

Nigel Evans, Tory MP for the Ribble Valley, led the group of MPs who tabled an Early Day Motion that "deplores any organisation or local authorities which try to prevent businesses, organisations or individuals in their area from giving full support to England in Euro 2004".

He said: "It is clearly mean-spirited to not allow England supporters to display their flags in support of the national side. Football-brings so many people together, and in an international tournament such as this it is terrible to imagine a Big Brother society stifling their support."

The row began when almost 40 drivers at Smiley Cars in Margate, Kent, were called by the local council and told to take down their St George's flags because they were breaking licensing laws. But, despite the threat of a £1,000 fine, the taxi drivers are standing firm.

Ray Holland, manager of Smiley Cars, said: "We have no intentions of taking the flags off. We are supporting the country and we are supporting the team, and we cannot see anything wrong with it."

A spokeswoman from the council said the licensing regulations clearly stated there should be no advertisement, emblem or flag displayed on private hire cars and the maximum fine for breaking the rules was £1,000.

But she also admitted no one at the council knew why the rule, which dates back 20 years, was introduced.

One pub chain has already withdrawn its ban, which was sent out by an "over-zealous" company official. Jeremy Skingley of Arena, which owns 142 pubs around the country, sent a memo expressing concerns that pubs could develop a "male-dominated, highly-charged, terrace-style football atmosphere" during Euro 2004.

As a result, Mr Skingley announced it would be "strict company policy that no St George's flags should be displayed". A spokesman for M&B, which owns Arena, said: "Unfortunately, sometimes we have people who are slightly over-zealous."

In Lancashire, where there have been concerns over the rise of the BNP, Rochdale council has told taxi drivers they could lose their licences if they don't remove their England flags.

But in London the authorities agreed to bend the rules during Euro 2004. A spokesman for Transport for London said: "When taxi drivers wish to show their patriotism we take a pragmatic approach."