Julia Hartley-Brewer’s latest TalkTV segment caught the ire of viewers after it emerged that a local church had taken down Union flags as they are “not inclusive”. The news anchor was chatting to caller Dan, based near Portsmouth, about his work as the “flag man”, during a phone-in segment on the programme.

Dan explained: “I put all the flags up in my village, put them up in the summer. First time I put them up I wasn’t quite sure of the legality so I put them up under the cover of darkness. I still got caught out by a couple of villagers, all of whom were very supportive, in a posh, sleepy village. The second time I went and tidied them up, put them up in the correct way which is important!”

He went on: “I’ve replaced all mine, tidied them up. The church took theirs down, so I sent them an email and asked what was going on. They said, ‘Oh, it’s not inclusive’.”

Astounded, Julia responded: “What, they literally said that? A local church?”

Dan responded: “Yeah, they literally said they’re not inclusive, and I said well I disagree. So I put them back up and I added to them 140ft of bunting. So the church is looking a lot better than everywhere else.”

Julia fumed: “When they say they’re not inclusive, what they mean is they think it’s about ‘white people’ and they don’t think anyone non-white is British, which is them being racist, ironically.”

Continuing on with his story, Dan said: “They’re very racist, that’s what I said. Anybody who comes to this country should love their flag and feel the same way about it I do.

“The third and final time, someone took them down just before Christmas and I couldn’t get them replaced quickly enough, but they all went back up bigger and better.”

Viewers were incensed in the replies section, with one writing: “A country’s home flag is about the most inclusive thing you can put up.”

Someone else said: “The Union flag, as its name suggests, is the essence of embracing and cherishing diversity. The union of four nations, cultures, languages and histories in one heraldic emblem.”

Others simply reached out to congratulate him, with one posting: “Well done Dan!” and another writing: “Top lad!”