Head of Festival Republic and organiser of Reading and Leeds Festivals Melvin Benn told BBC news that he aims to ban flags from future events. “You couldn’t see the acts [last year] – the flags were everywhere,” Benn complains.

When Big Day Out promoter Ken West attempted to stop fans taking Australian flags to the Sydney Showground following the infamous race riots in Sydney some years ago, former Prime Minister and general spokesperson for everything John Howard said it was “stupid and offensive”.

While opinions are divided on the worth of flags at mega-festivals like Glastonbury and Reading, a Glastonbury spokesperson last night told NME they won’t be implementing a ban on 2010’s event.

With marquee summer festivals like Soundwave and Big Day Out at our doorstep, will you be bringing your flagpoles along or ditching the cloths in favour of a good view of the stage for everyone? Or is it a non-issue in these parts?