aurora77 – he means that he doesn’t like the idea of such things. I personally agree with what you say, though there is a limit, of course. There is nothing wrong with showing peaceful respect and some cooperation when needed.
As for the new Chief Rabbi: honestly, the chareidi world really couldn’t care less. In Gateshead, many people don’t even know who the previous one was, or that such a thing exists at all. It’s an MO thing from the United Synagogue, it doesn’t have any impact at all on the frum world.