DCLG Building - April Fools Day Joke - Pirate Flag Was it Illegal?

An April Fools Day joke in the UK may actually have backfired and been illegal.

Member of Parliament and Communities & Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles flew a "skull and crossbones" (pirate) flag over the top of the building. This was an April 1st fools joke, but even though this was a prank, Pickles might well have bitten off more than he can chew!

The Right Honourable Eric Pickles MP Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/communitiesuk/



According to The Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007 you can't fly a Pirate Flag. Only the European Union flag, national flags, county flags and selected patron saints flags can be flown.

The DLCG website says "The European Union flag, the flag of the Commonwealth, the United Nations flag and English county and saints’ flags (where these are associated with a particular county) may be flown without express consent (Schedule 1, Class H)."

http://www.flickr.com/photos/vek/

Many people have been since speculating that Pickles is a pirate and is showing his true colors, you be the judge of that! The question is, will Pickles be prosecuted for his illegal act?