Wales Office minister slams Yes Cymru members because he defends giant Union Jack on Cardiff building

Wales Office minister David TC Davies has defended the planned installing of an eight storey tall Union Jack – while criticising Yes Cymru members who leave stickers throughout Wales.

In their regular call with journalists, Secretary of State for Wales Simon Hart, and Welsh Office Minister David TC Davies, MP for Monmouth, were asked by WalesOnline concerning the flag, that has been approved for that UK Government building in Central Square.

A petition against the flag presently has reached more than 16,500 signatures.

Mr Davies, who had been also around the call, said: "The petition I realize has been pushed by Yes Cymru and I'm frankly sick of seeing Yes Cymru stickers being placed throughout signs and buildings in Wales. If they want the moral high ground they should remember we requested planning permission for our flag. Once they want to start trying to get planning permission for all the stickers they're posting illegally they might have some cause for a discussion but at this time they haven't."

Asked if he knew and approved from the flag, Welsh secretary Mr Hart said he "definitely" knew concerning the flag and that "yes I definitely approve of it".

Mr Hart said the building was named after Welsh language campaigner William Morgan and that inside there is "significant Wales only branding within the building and also on the building".

"Company, you know what, we place a Union flag emblem up the corner, 25% of the building, and the message that sends is UK Government is here now to assist and support as part of a great union and also you know, we're pretty quite happy with that".

"I remember Rhodri Talfan Davies saying, when the new BBC building was set up 50 yards away, that he desired to make a big statement concerning the BBC being front and centre of life in Wales so stuck a massive BBC logo on the top of your building visible from across Wales.

"I think of the same people objecting towards the union element of our branding objected towards the B of the BBC as well when that came up within the scale it did."

When it was offer him the flag on the Government building is within addition to the united kingdom Government logo, Mr Hart said: "Every Government building in the UK has a UK flag."

To which WalesOnline said: "Not eight storeys tall" and Mr Hart responded: "Not every building has eight storeys".

"Queen Elizabeth House in Edinburgh has identical Union flag branding so it's perfectly normal in any large, modern building to have large modern branding that matches its style. Probably the most prominent part of that building which you can see from miles in all directions may be the Welsh flag on the top, and also you know, it does strike me as being, how can I say this politely, I probably can't…once the Welsh Guards go in to represent and get into battle any place in the world they are doing so with the Union Jack on their uniform.

"There's an absurdity relating to this, I believe that somehow the Union flag isn't a suitable method to brand a UK Government building. It's as absurd to point out that as it is our soldiers shouldn't wear a Union flag on their uniform and i believe it disguises another agenda happening in the minds of some people which I don't understand.

"Wales is part of the UK. Three from four voters in the united kingdom voted for a unionist party in the Senedd elections. It's not, in my experience, anything which challenges any of our patriotic opinions or our national identity.

"It complements it. You should be very happy with the very fact we're investing in a big means by Wales and ensuring there's to quote previous leaders no place left behind."

"We should we pleased ick out from the fact we remain area of the union and therefore are proud to say that however it isn't at the expense of our patriotic feelings or our national identity".

Mr Hart said the context is important because the hope is the building will become the centre of UK Government activity in Wales, housing Wales Office, Department for International Trade, Cabinet Office and Secretary of state for Housing, Communities and Local Government with up to 4,000 working there.

"It's a significant investment involving countless pounds of build to begin with, which the branding is certainly one part, as well as the combined economic clout of those who're likely to be inside it.

"It may be frustrating when some of our critics home in on a single part of the building of a very modern building whenever we would argue there are more quite important things you should be noticing," said Mr Hart.

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