As the Union Flag flies over York House, the Twickenham home of Richmond upon Thames Council, demonstrating local pride in British troops in the Gulf, council leader Tony Arbour has denied that significant opposition to the war exists in the borough.

The flag has been flying since Monday and Cllr Arbour said: "This gesture demonstrates the borough's support for our residents and their families who are on active service in the Gulf. It affirms the pride which we offered to the Royal Navy and HMS Richmond just four months ago when they were given the Freedom of the Borough. The flag will proudly be flown throughout the duration of the war."

Cllr Arbour denied that the council owed any further justification to the many residents who have been demonstrating against the war.

He said: "I haven't seen any evidence of a strong anti-war movement locally and I am not sure how representative of local feeling the two MPs' behaviour has been."

Twickenham MP Dr Vincent Cable and Richmond Park MP Dr Jenny Tonge both voted against the government over the war and have been outspoken in their criticism of the decision to invade Iraq.

Vicar of Richmond Julian Reindorp, who has been a leading campaigner against the war, said:

"The council must do what they want to do, but they are not entitled to rubbish what may be the feelings of up to half the country. This war has split the country down the middle and has seen Kenneth Clarke on the same side as the Socialist Workers.

"People have real concerns, not just about the war but about our relationships with the other world religions and it is playing games with the truth to suggest otherwise and deny that this opposition exists."

Leader of the Opposition, Lib Dem Serge Lourie has labelled the raising of the flag 'an extraordinary move'.

He said: " It seems to me that the Conservatives are always wrapping themselves up in the flag.

I work in Westminster and I have yet to see a flag flying there. There is no doubt however that all the people in the borough are sending their thoughts to the people in the Gulf."

Cllr Arbour insisted: "I think it would be inconsistent, after presenting the Freedom of the Borough to HMS Richmond, not to support their actions in the Gulf and given that both Serge Lourie and MP for Twickenham Vincent Cable attended that ceremony you might wonder about their own consistency."

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