Cardiff council flew the Pakistan flag at the city's castle for two days in August to mark the country's Independence Day, but the decision has sparked criticism from Reform UK, with accusations that the party is deliberately trying to inflame racial tensions.
Robert Jenrick, Reform's economic spokesman, attacked the council's decision on social media, describing the flag-raising as an "attempt to dominate our culture" and stating that no flag other than the Welsh dragon or Union Flag should fly over historic landmarks. His posts were followed by similar messages from other right-wing figures and commentators, including Reform Wales member Dan Thomas, though some of these posts used outdated imagery.
The controversy has drawn sharp rebukes from Welsh politicians across multiple parties, who argue that the flag-raising ceremonies are routine civic celebrations of community contributions rather than cultural threats.
What prompted the flag-raising?
Cardiff council's Labour leader Chris Weaver explained that the Pakistan flag was raised on 9 August, remaining aloft overnight, and was flown again on 14 August to mark Pakistan's Independence Day. The ceremony was part of the council's established practice of recognising significant dates and occasions at one of the city's most prominent civic buildings. Weaver noted that the Welsh and Union flags were also displayed at the castle on the same days, and that the council similarly marked India's Independence Day on 15 August.
According to Wales.com, one of the main India Independence Day celebrations in Wales took place at Cardiff Castle on 15 August 2026, demonstrating the venue's ongoing role as a site for official public events honouring international communities. The Cardiff Castle news page shows the venue continues to host official public events in 2025–2026, including "The 1947 Handover" and the Welsh National Field of Remembrance, underscoring the castle's function as a space for civic and commemorative ceremonies.
Weaver stated:
"The occasion provided an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the contribution of Pakistani communities to Cardiff's diverse and multicultural city."He added that the castle provides
"an important and visible way for the capital of Wales to recognise occasions of local, national, and international significance."
How did the controversy develop?
Reform Wales member Dan Thomas posted on X on Sunday using a photograph dated to 2024, claiming that "Labour in Cardiff are flying the Pakistan flag at Cardiff Castle." The image had originally been shared by a journalist on 14 August 2024, Pakistan's Independence Day. When BBC Wales asked Reform why Thomas had used a two-year-old photograph and employed the present tense in his message, the party did not address the question in its response.
Jenrick's social media posts followed, with his account reposting video footage from the castle ceremony and writing:
"Cardiff Castle has the Pakistani flag hoisted over it. Why do we allow this attempt to dominate our culture? We now see it everywhere. I am sick to death of foreign flags being hoisted above our historic buildings. Under a Reform government this pathetic submission ends and we will reassert our national identity."
This was not the first time Reform had objected to flag-raising ceremonies; the party previously opposed the Ukraine flag flying outside the Senedd in Cardiff Bay, citing a similar policy argument.
What have politicians said in response?
Natasha Asghar, Welsh Conservative Member of the Senedd for Casnewydd Islwyn, directly challenged Reform's framing of the ceremonies. She said:
"I have attended many flag hoisting ceremonies for the Indian community, the Pakistan diaspora, the Polish community, and I think they've all been fantastic events, well attended, from people from all different political walks of life."Asghar urged Reform to attend such events to witness how integration functions in practice, stating:
"I strongly suggest Reform goes to these events to see how integration takes place, and how it's not any form of takeover by any particular community, it's just showing a form of respect to one another."
When asked about Reform's claims of cultural domination, Asghar said:
"I'm really fed up of Reform trying to fuel and start a race-row. Reform pick up on these little stories to divert the public's attention... [from] negative news stories."
Plaid Cymru's Westminster leader Liz Saville Roberts also criticised Jenrick's intervention, saying:
"After an abysmal conference, Robert Jenrick is reaching for Reform's favourite distraction – stir up division and hope nobody notices the chaos in his own party. Welsh identity is not threatened by another nation's flag."
Former Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies raised a more measured question on X, asking whether the council should be flying foreign flags at all, though he acknowledged that the age of the photograph used in some posts was a secondary issue.
Is this a new practice?
Flag-raising ceremonies for international communities at Cardiff Castle are not recent innovations. A 2019 Wales Online piece explains that Cardiff Castle has previously been used for India and Pakistan Independence Day celebrations, with large community gatherings over two days. ITV reported in 2017 that India's flag was raised at Cardiff Castle to mark 70 years of independence, showing this is an established recurring practice. The castle has flown Pakistan's flag in previous years, including in 2024.
Weaver concluded by addressing the broader dispute, stating:
"This whole furore has stemmed from misinformation, and it's time for that to stop."
Key Facts
- Cardiff council flew the Pakistan flag on 9 and 14 August 2026 to mark Pakistan's Independence Day, as part of its established practice of honouring significant international occasions
- Reform UK's Robert Jenrick criticised the flag-raising as an "attempt to dominate our culture," while Reform Wales stated no flag other than the Welsh dragon or Union Flag should fly over historic landmarks
- Some posts circulating on social media used a photograph from 2024, not from the 2026 ceremony, leading to accusations of spreading misinformation
- Welsh politicians from the Conservative, Labour, and Plaid Cymru parties rejected Reform's characterisation, describing the ceremonies as routine civic celebrations of community contributions
- Flag-raising ceremonies for India and Pakistan Independence Days at Cardiff Castle are an established practice dating back at least to 2017
