Bolton Council to encourage Union flag flying at schools
Bolton Council is to encourage primary and secondary schools in the borough to fly the Union flag in their grounds and sing the national anthem in assemblies.
It follows a motion put forward by a councillor to help "inspire children to be proud of being British".
The move was approved following a vote at a full council meeting at Bolton Town Hall on Wednesday.
Conservative councillor Mudasir Dean said the Labour-led authority would be writing to schools to promote the idea.
'Community and country'
Mr Dean said the idea was inspired by his grandfather, an Indian immigrant who settled in Bolton in the 1920s.
"My grandfather was a proud Boltonian, proud of the Union Jack. When people migrate to this country, they don't adopt a sense of Britishness and I feel to an extent it's our own fault," he said.
He added the move was positive "for the community and the country".
Labour councillor Chris Peacock said alternative methods should be considered.
He said: "If you want to inspire patriotism amongst our young people, show the clips from the [London] Olympics again.
"That inspires more people into sport, into being British, than ever seeing a flag."