Councils are warning England fans not to hang St George’s Cross flags on public property during the World Cup to avoid being unwelcoming and divisive. The Mail has the story.
Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Shropshire are among the local authorities urging locals not to attach flags to lampposts or signs without permission.
But Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said today that anyone flying an England flag outside their home was “now intimidating migrants, according to our political class”.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp told the Daily Mail: “This is outrageous. Patriotic British citizens should be allowed to display national flags, whether the St George’s Cross, Saltire or Union Jack – at times like these.
“Woke councils should stop being ashamed of our national identity and culture, and start celebrating it instead. I’m proud of our national identity. We all should be – and times like the World Cup is a good time to display it.”
It comes after immigration officers were told that wearing England badges during the World Cup – which starts tonight – could intimidate detained migrants.
The messages come ahead of the World Cup, with England beginning their campaign against Croatia in Dallas on June 17th at 9pm BST, then facing Ghana in Boston on June 23rd again at 9pm and Panama in New Jersey on June 27th at 10pm.
Flags are going up in some areas of England – including at the famous Kirby Estate in Bermondsey, south-east London, known as the country’s “most patriotic estate”.
But it follows the ‘Operation Raise the Colours’ campaign becoming a flashpoint last summer, as patriotic activists put up St George’s Cross flags on lampposts and painted them on roundabouts – while critics claimed it was hurtful to immigrants.
Now, Bristol City Council leader Tony Dyer has told locals they cannot “fly flags on lampposts or railings or any public property” because of “health and safety issues”.
He encouraged anyone who spots any flags on public property to report them to the council, adding that officials were already “taking down flags in sensitive locations as a priority and will be reviewing our strategy for removing other flags on our property”.
Torrington Avenue in the city’s Knowle West area was previously dubbed one of England’s most patriotic streets after all 88 houses displayed the flag for Euro 2020.
Wiltshire Council said flags hung without permission on lampposts, roundabouts and road signs “pose safety risks to road users and pedestrians” and “obstruct visibility”.
And South Gloucestershire Council warned officials would remove flags displayed without permission on public land or council property, adding that the rules were to “protect public safety” and “maintain a welcoming and cohesive community feel”.
Worth reading in full.
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Where can I buy a flag? That should show them whats divisive. Remember we were here first!
For a few years now I’ve been wondering how long it would be before flag flying for sporting events would become verboten. And here we are. After all, if it’s ‘problematic’ to fly your own national flag simply to display your sense of identity and patriotism, then doing so to support your team in a tournament must be equally inflammatory. Hopefully people realise this and double down with the flag waving….
Since I’m not gay, that’s how I see the Pride Flag …. so I presume they’ll stop plastering them all over Public Buildings in future.
I am sick of the traitorous council globo-Islamo-communist pigs running our country and its people down. I don’t care if foreigners are upset, triggered, anxious or disturbed by my country or its flags. They can leave and if they don’t they will be forcibly removed by the Great Civil War which is rapidly coming. The traitors and the guilty will also be punished severely. A warning and a prediction from history, not a call to arms. But it’s coming.
Hear, hear!
The Council is cordially invited to shove its warning as far up its arse as possible. And if they can’t manage it themselves, I and many like me will be on hand to help, ably assisted by the Spear & Jackson Insulated 6.4KG, polyfibre/carbon-steel head for extra where-the-sun-don’t-shine depth.
Oxford will no doubt appear soon
“immigration officers were told that wearing England badges during the World Cup – which starts tonight – could intimidate detained migrants”
That is one of the reasons for wearing our badges.
The point of flags and other national emblems is to foster national unity (aka “ cohesion”). Only the woke left find our national symbols embarrassing.
I’m going to hazard a guess that it’s mainly white, indigenous, socialist tossers who have a problem with the England flags. Certainly going by the various video footage floating about it’s these type that exclusively go round in couples or groups taking them down. Someone even had a gadget to grab and remove the flag without having to climb a ladder. It’s like their hobby. It makes me wonder if they even support England in any sport: footy, rugby, cricket etc, or maybe it’s more the flags hanging in public that triggers them, which is still weird. Surely you can’t support your country in big sports competitions AND experience flag rage when you see them around. How abnormal…🤨
Does this help at all ?
😆 Bit surprised France isn’t on there, mind.
In Shropshire the socialist are the yellow bellied Lib Dem’s..
It’s here! The sequel to Two Tier Policing. Two Tier Flag Flying.
Pathetic
This is an indication that the number of migrants now within our walls constitute a nation.
Shame Pakistan or ‘Palestine’ aren’t in the World Cup, really. That might have been fun.😁 🇵🇰 🏴
😂
Sure some Prides are, though. The Pride of English Lions?
I find these Councils offensive
And what are ”sensitive locations” when they’re at home? Do they mean where the flags are blocking the view of road signs or that the area is particularly ‘diverse’? It’s either about ‘Health and Safety’ or offending the sensibilities of foreigners ( and probably a lot of white, native, socialist oikophobes, also ). It can’t be both. Once they start bringing in this woke nonsense as a lame excuse for taking down flags they just lose all credibility, because then we know it was never really about alleged ”Health and Safety” in the first place.
It’s the flag of our country, and if you find the flag of your adopted country offensive I’d suggest you’ve adopted the wrong country and do that country a favour and kindly f*ck off to one that you’re not offended by. Ditto the council twats.
Then i say…hang the high and proud by the million!
You do mean flags right? Just checking!
Naughty 🤭!
Hang them outside The George in Stamford.
Interestingly enough, the councils seem to have no problem with Palestinian flags.
I wonder if some enterprising soul has those available printed on toilet paper?
Or Ukraine flags
There have been changes, but I don’t know if this just applies to London. It’s actually part of the Highways Act 1980 ( Section 132 )*, so it should apply to all regardless of flag;
Jonathan Turner, chief executive of UK Lawyers for Israel commented: “We are pleased that the Met Police have now accepted that it is illegal to hang Palestinian flags from lamp posts in public streets without permission from the Council. The previous advice, suggesting that this was lawful was encouraging disrespect for local authorities and intimidation of their staff, as documented in our letter, as well as criminal offences of hanging the flags, thereby exacerbating communal strife.”
https://www.uklfi.com/met-police-change-guidance-on-flags-in-response-to-uklfi-letter
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1980/66/section/132
That didn’t stop local residents putting Palestinian flags all over LB Newham.
Yes there’s no point in having laws if nobody’s going to enforce them. There are an awful lot of lamp posts to monitor, though..
Yeah, but you know, I can’t help being a bit cynical… I bet that whilst the local councils are super-vigilant and hypersensitive to the sight of the British or English flags, turning into priggish, hectoring, finger jabbing officials, shouting racism and tearing them down, at the same time the Palestinian flag is viewed with maximum sympathy and understanding.
Perhaps they don’t obstruct visibility in quite the same way, probably the same as LGBTQ and Trans flags wouldn’t!
The visibility argument is bullshine. There is no consideration for safety and visibility when councils put up flags and banners for their Gay globo-communist pride days, etc.
Communist, anti white racists.
I’ve spoken with *many* foreigners in my lifetime. I don’t recall a single one feeling intimidated by the sight of a UK nation flag.
As is always the case, Lefties activist councillors are speaking for and on behalf of people who don’t want them to.
There is no act so wrong or wicked that it cannot be justified by a holier-than-thou person.
Well, I’m a foreigner.
I have spent more than half of my life in Britain, my wife is English, but nonetheless I am a foreigner.
I can categorically state that I do not feel the least bit intimidated or alienated by either the UK national or the English flag.
Being patriotic is a good thing. The nation state is one of the four supporting pillars of a healthy, cohesive society.
One more thing: in the 35 years I have been here, I have never felt unwelcome in Britain, Fair enough, I’m white, so maybe it’s different for people who look different, I don’t know. But every native Brit has been friendly and nobody ever made me feel like perhaps I shouldn’t be here.
Ah, you see, you’re obviously the wrong sort of foreigner. If you were the right sort you wouldn’t feel welcome.
Happy to see our neighbours from Hong Kong have plastered their house with saltires!
Or Ukraine.