When he went into the Department for Local Government Pickles declared he wanted county flags, along with the Union flag, to be flown each day outside the building. It changes each week in conjunction with county days etc. However, true to style, the EU has muscled in on the action and obliged the department to fly the EU flag under Article 7(2) of EC Regulation 1828/2006. However it seemed to be missing this morning:

One DCLG pirate told Guido; “Yargh, tis not an April Fool, but act of defiance.”