BOLTON’S call for schools to fly the Union Flag looks set to be copied by other councils.

Bradshaw councillor Mudasir Dean’s patriotic motion, which also asks teachers to lead pupils in singing the National Anthem during school assemblies, hit the headlines across the country after being reported in The Bolton News in April.

Letters have since been sent to all of Bolton’s schools asking them to take part, and now Conservative groups in Salford, Trafford and Westminster, have said they are looking at copying the move in a bid to instill more national pride in schools.

Cllr Chris Clarkson, who represents Worsley, has submitted a motion for Salford’s full council meeting. it will be debated in September.

He said: “I think, like Bolton, Salford is becoming more diverse and I don’t think it’s a bad thing to encourage a sense of patriotism.

“I thought Cllr Dean’s motion was extremely succinct, and addressing something that’s been missing for a long time.

“There has been a trend away from patriotism and being proud of this country, and that the flag has been used in a fairly divisive way.

“It should be an inclusive thing — this is our flag, it’s everyone’s flag and we can all take pride in our country.”

Cllr Dean said he was pleased to hear other councils could adopt his motion.

He added: “The reception from most of the public has been that people feel the same way that I do about it.

“There are some people who are apprehensive, and say they think young people might relate the flag to the far right.

“But it’s up to us as British people to promote our own values and that is something we must admit that we have failed to do in the past.”