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The Flag of the Fourth Wiltshire Republic, often referred to as the Flag of Wiltshire or the Wiltshirian flag, is the national flag of Wiltshire. It consists of a silver fern, which is a commonly used symbol of Wiltshire due to the plants common occurrence across the Wiltshirian plains, dividing a green and black background (the national colours of Wiltshire). The flag is also sometimes referred to as the Lockwood Standard, with similar variations being used in the South Pacific throughout the past several hundred years.
History
When the First Republic was formed in July 3009, Prime Minister Jaresh Inyo ordered the design of a new Wiltshirian flag. At the time, Wiltshire was considered far more of a northern European state than it is today. The decision was made to adopt a variant of the Nordic Cross. In the end, Inyo approved the following flag as the National Flag of Wiltshire.
However, this flag did not enjoy popular support across the country. Many Wiltshirians failed to identify closely with the blue of the flag. In addition, many considered the design "too complicated", with some suggesting that the star in the middle ruined the design all together. While this flag was in use for ten years between 3009 and 3019, it never became a national symbol for Wiltshire. Very few paraded it, and it wasn't even used by Wiltshirian government institutions often.
3013 controversy
In 3013, Prime Minister Martin Banks announced that he wanted to see the flag reformed to better reflect Wiltshire and Wiltshirian values. Banks created, what would become, the Banks Commission to identify what elements a new Wiltshirian flag would need to have to become more of a national symbol. The Banks Commission proposed the following flags;
This led to mass outrage across the country. While most disliked the incumbent flag, almost all preferred it to the "ugly" and "terrible" designs proposed by the Banks Commission. Following the flood of public support, Banks announced that he would end the Banks Commission. In his statement, he said;
"No flag will be enough for Wiltshirians, perhaps the perfect flag doesn't exist. I hope it does. One day, we may discover, or we may never."
The flag debate mostly went away, except for the Communist Party proposing in 3017 that the flag should include a hammer and sickle. This suggestion was quickly shot down and was never seriously considered.
3019 referendums
See full article: Wiltshire Flag Referendums.
When the National Party government took power under Fillmore Grey, the party promised a referendum of Wiltshire's flag. The argument, according to National, that there was no good alternatives was a terrible one and Wiltshirians deserved a say on what represents them around the world. Grey announced that he would reform the Banks Commission to present flag designs. The commission proposed a three-tiered referendum;
- Round 1 - Should a new Wiltshirian flag have a silver fern?
- Round 2 - Which of the following proposals should be the new Wiltshirian flag? (shortlist)
- Round 3 - Which of the following proposals should be the new Wiltshirian flag? (Round 2 victor vs incumbent)
Round 1 was held on 17 July 3019. With 72.5% of the vote, yes won. The new proposals were to contain a silver fern.
Round 2 was held shortly after with the following designs on offer.
The results of Round 2 were as follows;
| Flag | 1st preferences | 2nd preferences | 3rd preferences | 4th preferences |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Eliminated | ||
| 2 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 11 |
| 3 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 12 |
| 4 | 6 | 6 | 7 | Eliminated |
| 5 | 2 | 2 | Eliminated | |
Option 3 was selected to go ahead to the third and final round.
Round 3 pitted the major-green-black silver fern to go ahead against, in which it won a major victory against the incumbent. The new flag was adopted on 20 July 3019. However, the flag was changed following Wiltshire's independence of the Novanite Federation, swapping the colours of black and green.