Defiant locals vow to hang hundreds of St George's flags across UK after council sparked fury by tearing them down

The Irish Sun

a day ago

DEFIANT locals are vowing to hang hundreds of St George's flags across the UK after councils sparked fury by tearing them down.
The Union Jack and St George's flags were raised by locals up and down the country as part of a movement online called 'Operation Raise the Colours'.
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England flags flying on lampposts on Genners Lane along Bartley Reservoir in Birmingham
Credit: SWNS
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A St George's flag is displayed on a street in Tower Hamlets, east London
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Pictures posted on Operation Raise The Colours
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Flags were also hung on a bridge in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester
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Operation Raise the Colours saw flags first raised in East London and Birmingham this month before they were ordered to be taken down.
The movement has led to communities across the country hanging up flags on their streets, including Manchester, Bradford, Newcastle, Norwich and the Isle of Wight, in defiance of council bans.
Activists are continuing to use a Facebook page to help gather flags together.
Members are chipping in with offers of transport and equipment, such as ladders.
One user posted: "60 of the 120 just collected... going to be a busy few evenings."
A second wrote: "I just feel that the time has come to all band together and refuse to be bullied, we are proud of our country and should not be made to feel otherwise."
It comes after Sir Keir Starmer said he 'absolutely' supports people putting up English flags amid the row, a spokesperson said.
Mayor of Tower Hamlets Lutfur Rahman, who was found guilty of electoral fraud in 2015, has thwarted the campaign.
The national flags will now be ripped down "as part of routine maintenance".
Residents hit out after Tower Hamlets Council in east London announced the patriotic displays would be removed.
Group members have vowed to redouble their efforts and rejected criticism the movement is "aggressive".
And the PM 'absolutely' supports people putting up the English flags, it was revealed.
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Asked about the saga, the PM's spokesman said: 'I haven't asked him about specific cases, specific councils, but I think the PM has always talked about his pride in being British, the patriotism he feels."
Pressed if he supports people flying the English flag, the spokesman said: 'Absolutely - we put up English flags all around Downing Street every time the English football team, women's and men's are out, trying to win games for us.'
However, the PM stopped short of commenting on individual cases such as the disputes in Birmingham and Tower Hamlets.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp slammed the "two-tier policy" earlier this week.
"The Union Flag and St George's Cross are part of our national identity," he said.
"Displaying these flags shouldn't just be allowed - it should be encouraged, and they should fly with pride
"Councils like Birmingham and Tower Hamlets allowed flags of other counties to be displayed for weeks or months.
"But at the first sign of our national flags and they come straight down.
"More two tier policy. It is simply wrong.'
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Residents raising flags in Tower Hamlets
Credit: instagram/@crime.ldn
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Patriotic flags tied to lamp posts in Birmingham
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Flags raised in Tower Hamlets, east London
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A picture posted online on the Facebook group
Credit: Facebook
But a spokesperson for the council said: "We are aware members of the public have been putting up St George's flags on various structures.
"While we recognise people wish to express their views, we have a responsibility to monitor and maintain council infrastructure.
"Where flags are attached to council-owned infrastructure without permission, they may be removed as part of routine maintenance."
This comes after locals put up the St George's flags on houses and streetlights in Northfield, Birmingham, in what was described as a show of "patriotic outpouring".
The Union Jack and St George's flags were put up using ladders and cable ties by a group of residents called the Weoley Warriors.
Funded by £2,500 of public donations, the campaign is intended to 'show Birmingham and the rest of the country of how proud we are of our history, freedoms and achievements'.
But Birmingham City Council confirmed the flags will be removed, saying the "unauthorised items" are "dangerous" and could potentially kill motorists and pedestrians.
The council said that the extra weight could "potentially lead to collapse" in the future.
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A residential street in Radcliffe was covered with flags
Credit: LNP
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A roundabout at the junction of Haunch Lane and Warstock Lane in Birmingham was painted over
Credit: SWNS:South West News Service