Councillor Adam Carter said civic pride, flags and national symbols were being "hijacked by right-wing political parties and far-right nationalists."

A call to reclaim civic pride from 'divisive' politics sparked a heated debate over national flags, the Reform Party, and whether Rotherham is 'broken'.

Councillors backed a motion celebrating the borough's communities after debating its criticism of right wing rhetoric and claims that the far right was 'hijacking' national symbols.

Proposing the motion, Liberal Democrat councillor Adam Carter said civic pride, flags and national symbols were being "hijacked by right-wing political parties and far-right nationalists."

The motion criticised right-wing political parties, and others, portraying Britain's towns as 'broken, failing and divided', arguing that this rhetoric overlooked the people working to improve them.

Council leader councillor Chris Read supported coun Carter's concerns about people exploiting national symbols to create division.

But Conservative councillor Zachary Collingham argued that a Conservative amendment removing reference to 'right wing political parties' would have removed 'political point scoring' and allowed councillors to unite.

Labour councillor Rachel Hughes said the far right's use of national symbols could not be ignored, recalling 'violent far right activists outside the police station, outside Riverside House' following the Jay Report into child sexual exploitation, as well as rioters at the Holiday Inn in Manvers 'shouting the most vile and extreme racist fascist abuse that you ever heard'.

Reform councillor Tony Harrison dismissed the motion as “complete nonsense” and blamed successive Conservative and Labour governments for the country’s problems.

“Britain is broken, and like many towns up and down the UK, Rotherham is broken,” he said.

He called for greater community pride but rejected suggestions that Reform was far right.

“All this talk about far right is clearly a dig at Reform,” he said. “We aren't far right. We are just right."

He said he believed Reform was racist and far right, adding: "He talks about Britain being broken, well, I'll tell you what: if they ever get into power, it'll be shattered."

The Labour amendment, proposed by council leader Coun Chris Read and seconded by Coun Baker-Rogers, argued that pride also depended on good jobs, housing, safe neighbourhoods and reliable public services.

The agreed motion rejects calls to cut council events, regeneration, affordable housing and enforcement services.

It asks cabinet to consider support for celebrations and volunteer recognition, and scrutiny to review work with schools, businesses and community groups, alongside potential funding and sponsorship.