A ROW has broken out in York after city leaders decided not to fly the flag on the Mansion House at half-mast for Baroness Thatcher’s funeral today.

In an email to City of York Council’s chief executive Kersten England, Conservative leader Coun Ian Gillies called for a rethink.

He said: “I appreciate the differing opinions of the person and legacy, but I am very disappointed we are not prepared to show due respect on behalf of the city.”

The Government said flags on its buildings would be lowered and councils could do the same, but were not required to.

The Flag Institute’s UK “flag protocol” says they should be flown at half-mast to mark the funerals of current and former British prime ministers, although this is not enforceable.

Coun Gillies said: “I’m led to believe this was a political decision, which I find both churlish and petulant.”

Coun James Alexander, leader of City of York Council, said: “During the previous passing of prime ministers such as Ted Heath, City of York Council didn’t lower the Mansion House civic flag and therefore ordinary York protocol is being observed with respect to the sad death of Margaret Thatcher.

“We have previously lowered the flag to mark the deaths of people with a strong local connection, most recently when former Lord Mayor Cyril Waite died and when soldiers attached to the Yorkshire Regiment were killed in Afghanistan. There is no known precedent for flying a flag at half mast in York for prime ministers and there is no record of this ever having been done.”