We are still a nation state - that is the message from senior Tories on Canterbury council who don’t want to fly the European flag more than once a year.

Their comments came during a meeting of the council executive when members were told that some councils fly the European flag alongside the Union flag.

Cllr Tony Austin said: “I wouldn’t want to fly the European flag any more than we have to.

“We are still a country and have not been subsumed into Europe yet.”

Cllr Peter Lee agreed: “Views differ between people about flying the flag, but the fact is that we are still a nation state and have not yet been fully taken over by Europe.”

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The debate was prompted by new guidelines issued by the Department of Culture Media and Sport about flying the flag from public buildings.

The department suggests flying the Union flag on 19 days a year, including the Queen and Prince Philip’s birthdays, Commonwealth Day, Remembrance Sunday and St George’s Day.

The only day the European flag would be flown is Europe Day, May 9.

Council leader John Gilbey said that he would like the Union flag flown on public buildings the year round.

“We are still a country and the flag is something we should be proud of,” he said.

“But we have limited resources and the manpower to erect the flags and maintenance all costs money.”

The executive agreed to adopt the guidelines.