Councils across the UK have spent tens of thousands of pounds removing British flags which were erected as part of “Operation Raise the Colours”. Freedom of information (FoI) requests revealed that more than 380 local authorities have spent at least £70,000 taking down the Union Jacks and St George’s Crosses. The flag movement began during the Women’s Euros, with families showing their support by hanging out flags from windows or on poles outside their gardens.
This sparked a grassroots campaign where flags were attached to lampposts and bridges which began in Birmingham and East London. A group calling themselves the Weoley Warriors claimed responsibility, saying they were a “group of proud English men with a common goal to show Birmingham and the rest of the country how proud we are of our history, freedoms and achievements”. However, a number of councils raised safety concerns and began removing them.
Roundabouts were painted with the St George’s Cross (Image: Getty)
Medway council said it spent nearly £11,600 taking down 727 flags in Kent “to make the community feel safe again”, with Labour councillor Alex Paterson claiming it’s “money well spent”.
Yorkshire councils have also spent more than £30,000 removing British flags, the Observer reports.
Meanwhile, Reform-led Nottinghamshire County Council is to spend £75,000 installing new British flags across 82 locations in a bid to “strengthen community spirit”.
Birmingham became the first authority to tear down any Union Jacks or St George flags, with Tower Hamlets in east London following shortly after.
Labour-run Birmingham Council, which declared itself broke in September 2023, claimed those attaching flags “could be putting their lives and those of motorists and pedestrians at risk” despite being up to 25ft off the ground.
Debate over the issue began to rage with critics pointing out that Palestinian flags have flown elsewhere on the streets of the city, where 29.9% of residents are Muslim, since the war in Gaza began.
In response to the Birmingham controversy, thousands of flags were flown, with roundabouts and zebra crossings painted with the St George’s Cross.
The activity of flying English and British flags has sparked suspicion, with allegations that those behind it had political motivations and were attempting to create division between white British residents and other communities.
