Row over gay flags

The row over the ban on flying rainbow flags outside gay pubs in Soho intensified today.

Westminster council has ordered two firms, including the Admiral Duncan pub, to remove the flags because they do not have planning permission.

Ken Livingstone, as revealed in the Evening Standard, said yesterday that the ruling was "deeply offensive to lesbian and gay people" and demanded the decision be reversed.

But today the council's Tory leader, Simon Milton, hit back at the Mayor's comments, accusing him of a " contemptible attempt to drive an artificial wedge between the council and the gay community".

And, in a reference to the controversial visit of Yusuf al-Qaradawi to City Hall last July, he accused the Mayor of providing a "red carpet welcome for homophobic preachers". Mr Milton said that if pubs applied for the proper planning permission, the flags could probably remain.

In a letter to the Mayor, Mr Milton said: " I think they [people] will be rather more offended by your contemptible attempt to drive an artificial wedge between the council and the gay community for party political purposes, or your red-carpet welcome for homophobic preachers.

"Sadly, we are well used to such behaviour from you. It is remarkable how you start these rows on the day when you have something unpalatable to announce like the doubling of the congestion charge zone and the increase in daily rate to £8."

The letter said: "If gay-owned businesses-want to fly a rainbow flag, they need to make a planning application. This will come to members for decision and, provided it is not out of keeping in size or scale with the streetscape, I am confident members of the planning committee-will be sympathetic." In his previous letter, the Mayor said: "Proudly flying the community flag visibly strengthens London's welcome to lesbian and gay society.

"The removal of these flags will be seen as deeply offensive to lesbian-and gay people at a time when the Government is finally granting this community equal civil rights."

He said in a statement last night: "I have not yet seen Simon Milton's letter. But it appears that Westminster is starting to back down."