Birmingham City Council faces mounting criticism for removing British flags from lampposts whilst leaving Palestinian flags untouched, with leaked internal communications revealing the authority needed police support to take down foreign flags due to safety concerns.
The Labour-controlled council, which declared effective bankruptcy in 2023, has ordered the immediate removal of Union Jack and St George’s Cross flags recently displayed across the city, citing dangers to drivers and pedestrians. However, Palestinian flags that have flown from lampposts for approximately eighteen months remain in place across areas including Sparkhill, where roughly 80 per cent of residents are Muslim.
A leaked internal message has exposed the council’s reluctance to apply the same swift action to Palestinian flags. Cabinet member Majid Mahmood wrote in February: “We are taking these down, but we need the support of the police due to issues that have cropped up when we first tried to take them down,” according to the Daily Mail.
‘Blatant Two-Tier Bias’
Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick condemned the situation as “blatant two-tier bias against the British people,” arguing that the Labour-controlled authority appeared ashamed of Britain whilst celebrating other nations.
We must be one country, united under one flag,” Jenrick said, describing it as “a damning indictment” that the council seemed intimidated into requiring police assistance for removing unauthorised foreign flags.
Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith branded the council’s actions “shameful,” noting they had found personnel to remove national flags on the eve of VJ Day commemorations despite being unable to resolve the ongoing bin strike crisis that has plagued the city for months.
Sir John Hayes MP invoked Birmingham’s heritage, stating that Joseph Chamberlain “would hang his head in shame” at the current situation. The controversy comes as the bankrupt council continues to struggle with a five-month bin strike that has left thousands of tonnes of rubbish uncollected across England’s second city.
Grassroots Patriotic Campaign
The flag displays began appearing across Weoley Castle, Northfield, Selly Oak, Bartley Green and Frankley Great Park in recent weeks, organised by a community group calling themselves the Weoley Warriors.
The anonymous organisers, who describe themselves as “a group of proud Englishmen with a common goal,” have raised over £4,000 through crowdfunding to purchase flags, poles and cable ties. Their GoFundMe page states they aim to “show Birmingham and the rest of the country of how proud we are of our history, freedoms and achievements.”
Local historian Helen Ingram reported widespread community support, describing “an almost carnival-like atmosphere” and renewed community unity. The group has pledged to replace any flags removed by the council, with one spokesman warning: “We guarantee that there won’t be any disorder from within our group. This is about peace and pride.”
Hayley Owens, a 40-year-old former police officer, expressed frustration: “We are sick of having to apologise for being British in our own country.”
Council Cites Safety Concerns
Birmingham City Council maintains that unauthorised attachments to lampposts create potential collapse risks, endangering those installing them as well as pedestrians and motorists below. The authority claims the added weight could cause structural failures, with flags typically placed 20 to 25 feet above ground level.
A council spokesman confirmed they had removed over 200 items from street furniture this year, including Palestinian flags, though some had been subsequently replaced. The spokesman added: “People who attach unauthorised items to lampposts could be putting their lives and those of motorists and pedestrians at risk. We are continuing to do this every week and would ask that staff doing this work are allowed to continue this work unhindered.”
The council stated that its programme to upgrade lampposts to energy-efficient LEDs cannot continue if flags remain attached, adding: “Placing unauthorised attachments on street furniture, particularly tall structures like lampposts, can be dangerous – that is why the council always has to ‘stress test’ assets around any formal events or celebrations.”
Double Standards Allegations
Critics have highlighted apparent inconsistencies in the council’s approach. Just this week, the Library of Birmingham was illuminated in green and white to mark Pakistan’s independence day on 14 August, and in orange, green and white for India’s independence on 15 August.
Lee Anderson, the Reform UK MP, told The Telegraph: “This is nothing short of a disgrace and shows utter contempt for the British people.
Conservative councillor Simon Morrall called for an “amnesty” on flag removals until at least the end of August, describing the displays as a “clearly peaceful movement” that residents love. He added: “When the city council can’t fix potholes, are closing down youth centres and selling off assets, all while fly-tipping piles up in our community and graffiti is out of control, then finding resources to remove Union flags sends the wrong message.”
Financial Crisis Background
The flag controversy unfolds against Birmingham’s dire financial situation. The council issued a Section 114 notice in September 2023, effectively declaring bankruptcy with liabilities including up to £760 million in equal pay claims dating back to 2012.
The financial crisis has led to £400 million in cuts and council tax increases of 17.5 per cent over two years. Despite these austerity measures, Birmingham councillors accepted a 5.7 per cent pay rise this year, citing increased workloads.
The ongoing bin strike, now in its fifth month, stems from the council’s attempt to cut waste collection roles that would see workers lose up to £8,000 in salary. Over 21,000 tonnes of rubbish have gone uncollected, with reports of rats “as big as cats” feasting on waste in the worst-affected areas.
Community Divisions
Not all residents support the flag campaign. Some worry that the sudden surge of national flags could deepen divisions in Birmingham, where almost a third of residents are Muslim.
Resident Nazia said she respected British pride but felt that, for minorities, the flag can sometimes carry undertones of exclusion. “We all have a responsibility to understand how actions are perceived in a multicultural city,” she explained.
Jeremy Duthie from Weoley Castle defended the flags, saying: “Anyone who has a problem with our national flag being flown is living in the wrong country and should maybe consider living in the country represented by whatever flag they prefer to see flying.”
The council insists its policy applies to all unauthorised attachments regardless of what flags they display, but the leaked communications about needing police support for Palestinian flag removal have fuelled accusations of selective enforcement based on fear of community backlash.
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Image Credit (Shortened):
Flag of Palestine (PNG version) – Public domain via CC 0, via Wikimedia Commons.
