Pub landlord 'told by council officers to remove Union Jack jacket because it might offend people'
- Jason Mawer has been warned twice to remove his one-off jacket
- Mawer runs a pub near the centre of Barnsley, South Yorkshire
- The unique Mod-style jacket was made for a Who convention in London
Pub landlord Jason Mawer has twice been asked in public to remove his treasured Union Jack jacket - for risk of it being 'offensive'.
He was told to take off his valuable Mod-style Barbour jacket - designed in honour of legendary rock band The Who - by officials who appeared to be council enforcement officers.
On the second occasion the female official warned him: 'Would you mind removing your coat it might offend somebody.'
Pub landlord Jason Mawer in his Union Jack jacket outside his Barnsley pub
Jason, who runs a pub near the centre of Barnsley, South Yorkshire said: 'It's definitely political correctness gone mad. It's an overused phrase but I think it definitely applies.'
He was walking through the town centre on his way to the bank when a woman in a high-visibility jacket tried to stop him.
He said: 'She was polite enough and came alongside me before asking me to remove my jacket. She didn't say who it might offend.
'To be honest I was in a hurry and I was walking along as she asked me to take it off. In the end I just said, "No I'm not taking it off," and carried on.
'I thought it was ridiculous to be honest. What's offensive about the Union Jack? I only had a T-shirt on underneath and it was raining so I would have got really wet.
'It was an insult to be asked to take it off. It is my pride and joy. I'm a big fan of The Who and the Mod era and have all the gear.'
A different officer challenged him again last Saturday afternoon.
The unique Mod-style jacket in red, white and blue was made a few years ago for a Who convention in London
The unique jacket in red, white and blue was made a few years ago for a Who convention in London.
It was auctioned at the event but ended up with a Scottish owner who decided not to keep it and Jason's partner Lyndsey Smith managed to buy it for Jason's 40th birthday in January.
Ms Smith said: 'I bought the jacket for his birthday. It's a one-off design and he's wanted it for quite a while. I managed to get the owner to part with it.
'He's been stopped twice by officials who we believe are enforcement officers who police the town centre. I think it is disgusting.
'It is purely a flag and has no offensive slogans on it. If you can't walk through your own town in your own country with the Union Jack then there is something seriously wrong.
'There is nothing wrong with being proud of where you come from. It doesn't mean you are racist.'
Mr Mawer's pub, the Manx Arms, is decorated with Union and St George flags and features a mural outside depicting a soldier, a poppy, a cross and the words 'Lest We Forget' which was painted for Remembrance Day last year.
There is a 21ft flagpole with an England flag and the couple run coach trips to both Barnsley and England football matches.
Barnsley Council said they could not find any record of their enforcement officers being involved and refused to comment on the case.
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