There is justifiable anger in Bradford about the decision not to fly the City Hall flag at half mast all day yesterday following the tragic death of a former Lord Mayor.

Councillor Harry Mason was a loyal citizen and very brave man who battled heroically against a progressive crippling disease for most of his mayoralty. He refused to give up despite being very poorly and knowing that his remaining time was short.

In such circumstances the natural thing is to honour that high degree of public service by flying the flag for a day at half mast. It is disturbing to discover that could not be done yesterday because of a clash of protocols which led to a decision - later overturned - to fly it at full mast for half a day to honour a minor member of the Royal Family, and a child at that.

To add insult to injury, hardly anybody would have been aware that yesterday was the birthday of Princess Eugenie, daughter of the Duke of York and his estranged wife.

Whose decision it was to press ahead with this flag-flying is not clear, but surely it is time we reviewed some of our more forelock-tugging traditions?

It is right that significant members of the Royal Family - the Queen, Queen Mother and the heir to the throne - should be respectfully treated. But does anyone other than the most avid royalist really care about Princess Eugenie's birthday? Certainly it should not have interrupted a full and proper tribute to a member of the local community who had given such selfless service to the city.