Palestine flags on display around polling stations in London as locals fume 'democracy has broken down'
Palestinian flags were spotted across the capital (file photos)
PA
Numerous Palestinian flags have been spotted in the streets of London as Britons head to the polls to vote in today's General Election.
The flags - which have represented a protest symbol for the embattled Middle Eastern state for years, especially so in the wake of the Hamas terror attacks in October last year - were seen outside polling stations in the capital's east and parts of Essex.
One witness, journalist Nicole Lampert, reported seeing one of the flags fluttering in the wind outside a polling station at Columbia School, a primary school in East London.
Though she noted the flag had been taken down after being hoisted overnight, Lampert said: "I'm pretty sure this breaks election rules.
A Palestinian flag flies outside a polling station today. It won’t surprise you to learn that this is a school in Bethnal Green.
— Nicole Lampert (@nicolelampert) July 4, 2024
I’m pretty sure this breaks election rules.
It shows how ideals of fairness and democracy have broken down in parts of our country.@TowerHamletsNow pic.twitter.com/5a13ykaDCX
"It shows how ideals of fairness and democracy have broken down in parts of our country."
Another eyewitness posted photos of one flag flying at a roundabout in Ilford, again in East London, while Lampert added more images of the flags flying from outside a church being used as a polling station in the area.
Numerous social media posters chimed in with further reports of the pan-Arab coloured flags visibly hung outside polling stations across London.
While some were quick to seek comment from the Electoral Commission (EC), the flags do not appear to breach the body's guidance on campaign materials.
MORE LIKE THIS:
One was spotted outside Columbia School in East London
The EC's guidelines state that while campaigning is permitted on polling day, campaign material is not allowed "within the perimeters of a polling station".
Given that the flags do not display any British political party affiliation, they do not fall under the description of "campaign posters, banners or other advertising literature".
An Electoral Commission spokesperson confirmed to GB News that the flags "are not considered campaign material" and thus are "not a matter for electoral law".
The EC does caution that local planning restrictions - as alluded to by some social media users - may prevent campaign materials being put up nearby, but this falls out of the regulator's jurisdiction.
Another witness posted images of the flags flying in Ilford
Polling stations across the UK opened this morning at 7am - and after voting ends at 10pm, ballot boxes for the 650 constituencies are taken from the stations to counting centres, where counts begin immediately.
Party leaders including Labour's Sir Keir Starmer, the Conservatives' Rishi Sunak, The Lib Dems' Ed Davey, Reform UK's Nigel Farage and the SNP's John Swinney have cast their votes already.
And voters can file their ballots past the deadline - as long as they are in the queue by 10pm.
GB News has approached Tower Hamlets council for comment.
You may like
