Reform and Restore's false flag operation

A number of figures on the hard right of British politics have been getting exercised this week by a photograph of a flag fluttering above Cardiff Castle.

Rupert Lowe, leader of one-man-band outfit Restore, posted the picture – which shows the national flag of Pakistan hoisted above the gothic castle – on his Facebook page this week with the message “Pakistan flags flying over Cardiff Castle – what are we doing to ourselves? A Restore Britain Government will not allow this.”

The same image was also posted on X by Dan Thomas, the former north London Conservative council leader who now leads Reform in Wales, who seemed to think it was connected to an entirely unrelated criminal case in the north-west of England.

“Pakistan is refusing to take back Shabir Ahmed, the former Rochdale rape gang leader,” he wrote. “Since that monster’s 2012 conviction, the Tory/Labour uniparty have given Pakistan >£3billion in foreign aid.

Suggested Reading

Mob marches on Pakistan cricket team – assuming them to be migrants

Rats in a Sack

“Now Labour in Cardiff are flying the Pakistan flag at Cardiff Castle. Thoughts?!”

Another to share the picture was Owain Clatworthy, a Restore member of Bridgend Council in South Wales, who defected from Reform earlier this year after failing to be placed high enough on his former party’s list for the election to the Senedd.

“They call the Union Jack extremist/Far right. Then they hoist this over Cardiff Castle,” he wrote. “Britain is being hollowed out from the inside.

Suggested Reading

Ta-ta Tim – Montgomerie retires from Reform

Rats in a Sack

“Take note America. Britain has fallen.”

What none of the posters told their followers was that, while the image did indeed show the flag of Pakistan above the 11th-century landmark, the picture was taken two years ago and marked the country’s independence day.

Cardiff has a large and proud Pakistani community and the flag is flown for a day each year to mark its national day, accompanied by celebratory events. It isn’t currently flying, and it is unclear why a large number of hard-right figures decided to share it at once this week.

It is also unclear how a Restore Britain government would bar it from being displayed – which flags to fly over tourist attractions is at the discretion of local councils, not Downing Street. Still, it keeps the clicks and the cash flowing in!