Doncaster Council to be urged to fly Union flag on its buildings every day

All government buildings in England, Wales and Scotland will now fly the red, white and blue flag every day of the year, following new guidance from the culture department.

Currently flags are only required to be flown on certain days such as the Queen's birthday.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden described the flag as "a proud reminder of our history and the ties that bind us.”

The move is also being rolled out to all councils across England, Scotland and Wales, urging public buildings to fly the flag 365 days a year.

The guidance released by the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport department says the Union flag should be flown every day - except on those occasions where another flag is being flown. The guidance will only apply from the summer.

The Union flag first appeared in 1606, after James VI of Scotland ascended to the throne in England in 1603 to become James I.

The flag combined the two flags of England and Scotland's patron saints - the red cross of Saint George and the white cross of Saint Andrew.

The red cross of Saint Patrick was later added.

Announcing the new guidance, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: "The Union flag unites us as a nation and people rightly expect it to be flown above UK government buildings - this guidance will ensure that happens every day."

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's PM programme, Conservative MP Sir John Hayes welcomed the move saying: "I think we just don't fly our flag enough - if you go to capitals of other countries, around the heart of those capitals, particularly government buildings, you routinely see the flag of that country flying.

"So it does seem to me something that unifies the country, that brings us together, that allows us to share in our national pride - what's wrong with that? And after this year, bringing the country together around the flag couldn't be more apposite."

The flag is also sometimes referred to as the Union Jack.