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Eurovision Bans Welsh Flag – Along With ISIS Banners – For Being Too ‘Political’

Anyone who attempts to unfurl a Welsh dragon flag in support of singer Joe Woolford faces being thrown out of the audience after organisers placed it on a list of banned flags – alongside the Islamic State banner.

The flag of the European Union will be allowed, however, as will the rainbow LGBT flag (representing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people), provided it is not waved in a “political” manner.

The move has sparked anger and ridicule from fans of Woolford, 21, a former finalist on The Voice who will be performing as Britain’s entry into the competition with English singer Jake Shakeshaft as Joe and Jake.

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Woolford, from Ruthin, Denbighshire – above, far left, with 2015 The Voice finalists Karis Thomas and Clark Carmody – and 20-year-old Shakeshaft, from Stoke-on-Trent, were chosen after a public vote and will perform You’re Not Alone.

The Welsh flag appeared on a list of banned flags along with those of territories which are not full UN members including Palestine, the Basque Country, Crimea and Northern Cyprus.

They were listed along with the black and white banner of Islamic State ahead of the contest, which will be held in the Swedish capital Stockholm later this month.

Organisers say only flags of contest members and UN states can be flown, along with the EU flag and LGBT flag, which was held aloft around the world when drag queen Conceit Wurst, below, competed in 2014.

Peter Black, who is standing as a Liberal Democrat candidate for the Welsh Assembly, told the Daily Mail: “It is disappointing that the Welsh flag has been banned from Eurovision.

“Lumping it in with flags of terrorists like Islamic State is outrageous.”

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A Eurovision spokesman apologised to anyone offended by the banned flags list, saying: “It is important to state that the flag policy is not aimed against any organisation or any territory, specifically Wales.”

Britain last won Eurovision in 1997, when Katrina and the Waves topped the vote with the ballad Love Shine A Light.

Electro Velvet, last year’s UK entrants, came third from last after scoring just five points.

Pictures Getty Images