Residents and councillors have voiced their disappointment at the council’s decision.

Reform councillors in Barnsley have rejected flying the rainbow Pride flag as part of a new policy.

On June 4, a statement by Barnsley Council said from now on the town hall would only fly the Union Flag, the St George’s Cross and the Barnsley Council flag.

Following this, the Armed Forces flag was flown at the Town Hall during Armed Forces Week in June.

On July 16, the Reform administration proposed a new flag flying motion that would see the Union Flag, St George’s Cross, and Barnsley coat of arms flag flown atop of the town hall, with exceptions for Remembrance Day, Yorkshire Day, and Armed Forces Week.

At the meeting, Cllr Edward Dillingham said: “There will be no more ad-hoc decisions, no more competing demands, no more turning our town hall into a billboard for whatever cause a vocal minority shouts about that month.

“It simply says that our town hall is not a free advertising space for every pressure group, or is to be used to draw attention to whatever woke special interest is being pushed on us at that time,” he said.

“The people of Barnsley elected us to do it. They are fed up of the woke ideology being rammed down their throats, especially the throats of their children and grandchildren.”

An amendment proposed by Labour councillors would’ve seen the Pride flag flown during June, and Barnsley twin-town Schwäbisch Gmünd and Horlivka flags.

The original policy faced backlash from many councillors, including Labour leader and councillor James Higginbottom.

“For many years this council has been proud to celebrate our LGBT community during the month of June, alongside the rest of the country.

“Pride is a shared sense of belonging, a reassurance that you are loved and valued for who you are, not for who you love. It’s not a fad, it’s not an ideology, it’s not a woke special interest,” he said.

“In a world where a sense of acceptance and belonging feels more fragile than it has felt in a long time, I think that is something worth holding onto.”

The amendment was rejected by Reform councillors in the full council vote.

Following this, the original policy was passed, despite many councillors abstaining from the vote.