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Bolton council votes for schools to fly union flag and sing national anthem Bolton council votes for schools to fly union flag and sing national anthem
(about 5 hours later)
Schools in Bolton will be encouraged to fly the union flag and sing the national anthem in assemblies in order to foster patriotism in the young after the council voted overwhelmingly in favour of the idea. Schools in Bolton will be encouraged to fly the union flag and sing the national anthem in assemblies in order to foster patriotism among the young after the council voted overwhelmingly in favour of the idea.
The motion was proposed by Conservative councillor Mudasir Dean.The motion was proposed by Conservative councillor Mudasir Dean.
He told the Bolton News he wanted to show young people there is nothing wrong with being patriotic: "My grandfather came to Bolton in the 1920s from India. He lived here all his life and he was the first Asian to settle in Bolton – he was a true English gentleman and a true Boltonian," he said. He told the Bolton News he wanted to show young people there was nothing wrong with being patriotic. "My grandfather came to Bolton in the 1920s from India. He lived here all his life and he was the first Asian to settle in Bolton – he was a true English gentleman and a true Boltonian," he said.
"Throughout my teens and growing up in Bolton, I've seen less and less of the union flag. It's been hijacked by the far right and it's time we take that symbol back into mainstream British, Bolton life.""Throughout my teens and growing up in Bolton, I've seen less and less of the union flag. It's been hijacked by the far right and it's time we take that symbol back into mainstream British, Bolton life."
He added: "We hear complaints from people who come to this country and don't settle, and some of it is our own fault. Dean added: "We hear complaints from people who come to this country and don't settle, and some of it is our own fault.
"If we were more patriotic – if we sang our national anthem and flew our flag – and instilled it in our younger generations, they would do.""If we were more patriotic – if we sang our national anthem and flew our flag – and instilled it in our younger generations, they would do."
His motion, passed by 33 votes in favour with 12 abstentions and 4 against, read: "This council, via the office of the director of children's services, would like to encourage our schools (primary and secondary) to fly the union flag in our school grounds throughout the borough and encourage them to include the national anthem as part of school assemblies.His motion, passed by 33 votes in favour with 12 abstentions and 4 against, read: "This council, via the office of the director of children's services, would like to encourage our schools (primary and secondary) to fly the union flag in our school grounds throughout the borough and encourage them to include the national anthem as part of school assemblies.
"This would inspire children within the Bolton family to be proud of being British, enabling them to appreciate our rich history and great heritage.""This would inspire children within the Bolton family to be proud of being British, enabling them to appreciate our rich history and great heritage."
Bolton council will now write to all schools in the area and ask them to consider flying the flag and incorporating a performance of God Save the Queen into the school day, a council spokesman said. The council will now write to all schools in the area and ask them to consider flying the flag and incorporating a performance of God Save the Queen into the school day, a council spokesman said.
Labour councillor Chris Peacock disagreed, telling BBC's North West Tonight that alternative methods should be considered.Labour councillor Chris Peacock disagreed, telling BBC's North West Tonight that alternative methods should be considered.
He said: "If you want to inspire patriotism amongst our young people, show the clips from the [London] Olympics again. Show the pictures of [Bolton Olympic cyclist] Jason Kenny on the town hall steps celebrating his gold medals.He said: "If you want to inspire patriotism amongst our young people, show the clips from the [London] Olympics again. Show the pictures of [Bolton Olympic cyclist] Jason Kenny on the town hall steps celebrating his gold medals.
"That inspires more people into sport, into being British, than ever seeing a flag – which, sadly, because of the Bolton weather, will be flying in the rain most days.""That inspires more people into sport, into being British, than ever seeing a flag – which, sadly, because of the Bolton weather, will be flying in the rain most days."
Another Labour councillor dismissed the idea as "American" – in the US many schools fly the stars and stripes and pupils pledge allegiance to the flag each morning. Another Labour councillor dismissed the idea as "American". Many schools in the US fly the stars and stripes and pupils pledge allegiance to the flag each morning.
Bolton council is controlled by Labour, which currently has 40 seats compared to the Conservative's 16 and three for the Lib Dems. All councillors were allowed a free vote on the motion. Bolton council is controlled by Labour, which currently has 40 seats compared with the Conservative's 16 and three for the Liberal Democrats. All councillors were allowed a free vote on the motion.