Hertsmere’s Jeremy Newmark condemns Operation Raise the Colours as Conservative councillor warns against ‘letting extremists define’ national symbols
A Labour council leader has sparked controversy after describing Operation Raise the Colours as an “attempt by a bunch of criminals, extremists and nonces to hijack our national flag” during a heated council meeting that left fellow councillors gasping.
Jeremy Newmark, Leader of Hertsmere Borough Council, made the explosive comments at a full council meeting on Wednesday, September 17, in response to questioning from Conservative councillor Brett Rosehill about the flag-raising movement that has spread across Britain.
The confrontation highlighted growing tensions over Operation Raise the Colours, a campaign to display St George’s flags and Union Jacks on lampposts and street furniture across the UK, which supporters claim promotes patriotism but critics allege has been hijacked by far-right extremists.
Gasps in the Chamber
The dramatic exchange occurred when Councillor Rosehill asked Newmark to “guarantee that these displays will not be removed in our borough,” arguing the movement reflected “public sentiment.”
During the meeting, Rosehill warned that Newmark was “constantly linking our national flag to extremism” and cautioned it could “run the risk of letting extremists define it instead of reclaiming it for the mainstream.”
Newmark’s response was uncompromising: “I’m sorry but I’m not playing. I won’t be taking lectures on our national flag and extremism from a councillor that has the audacity to speak in almost glowing terms in this question to the council about Operation Raise the Colours.”
He then delivered the statement that shocked the chamber: “Operation Raise the Colours: an organised, orchestrated attempt by a bunch of criminals, extremists and nonces to hijack our national flag.”
Links to Far-Right Figures
The Labour leader defended his harsh language by pointing to the individuals behind the movement. “Look at the individuals behind that organisation. Look at the individuals behind Tommy Robinson’s event this weekend. Look at their string of criminal convictions, sex offences and such like,” Newmark said.
His comments appear to be substantiated by research from anti-racism group Hope Not Hate, which revealed that the co-founder and main organiser of Operation Raise the Colours is Andrew Currien, also known as Andy Saxon, a longtime ally of far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
Currien, who formerly served as a key member of the English Defence League’s leadership bodyguard team and now runs security for Britain First, was one of six men convicted in 2009 following a racist killing where a 59-year-old man was crushed to death by a car following a violent brawl.
The campaign has received support from multiple far-right figures and organisations, including Britain First, which donated between 200 and 250 flags to the movement. Robinson himself has openly endorsed the initiative, whilst Nick Tenconi, leader of UKIP, posted a video of himself participating in the campaign.
Council’s Position on Flags
Despite his fierce criticism of the organisation behind the campaign, Newmark clarified the council’s position on national flags, stating Hertsmere would not remove flags from street furniture under their control “unless there is a clear and present risk to public safety.”
The Labour leader emphasised he “strongly supports the display of our national flags,” pointing to the Union flag flying at the council’s Civic Offices, the council-owned Elstree Film Studios, and along Shenley Road in Borehamwood, as well as St George’s flags displayed to mark the Lionesses’ success at Euro 2025.
“Alongside the genuine and heartfelt surge of patriotism, there have been attempts to associate our national flags with an initiative known as Operation Raise the Colours,” Newmark explained.
He added there was “reliable evidence that the organisers of this initiative are long-standing far-right activists, many with serious convictions for racially motivated violence.”
National Debate Over Flags
The confrontation in Hertsmere reflects a broader national debate about Operation Raise the Colours, which began in August 2025 shortly after anti-immigration protests across Britain.
The campaign has involved activists tying flags to lampposts and painting St George’s crosses on mini-roundabouts and zebra crossings. Supporters claim it promotes national pride and patriotism, whilst critics argue it represents an attempt to intimidate minority communities.
Various councils across England have taken different approaches. Birmingham City Council, City of York Council and Tower Hamlets London Borough Council have removed unauthorised flags, citing safety concerns and lack of permission. Meanwhile, North Northamptonshire Council, under Reform UK control, has defended the flags as a “visible expression of pride.
Liberal Democrat-run Hertfordshire County Council, the upper-tier authority responsible for highways, stated it would remove “unapproved items” when workers are in the relevant area.
Political Divisions
The campaign has exposed political divisions, with Conservative shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick posting on social media: “We must be one country, under the Union Flag,” whilst Reform UK has lauded the campaign as a vehicle for “unity and inclusion.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has taken a cautious approach, stating the St George’s flag “represents our diverse country” whilst warning he would not tolerate people being “intimidated on our streets because of their background or the colour of their skin.
Nick Ireland, Liberal Democrat leader of Dorset Council, warned the campaign had been “hijacked” by the far-right to promote their extremist agenda, suggesting flag displays could intimidate residents because of alleged far-right associations.
Warning to Colleagues
Newmark concluded his council chamber intervention with a stark warning to his political opponents: “If those are the people that councillors in the group opposite see fit to quote in this chamber, see fit to laud in this chamber, and see fit to use as part of normative political discourse, then something is very wrong.
He emphasised the importance of ensuring flags are “displayed correctly and respectfully, thereby reclaiming it from extremist groups and affirming its true meaning for the vast majority of residents.”
The Labour leader’s controversial comments come just days after the Unite the Kingdom march in central London, which saw up to 150,000 people pack the streets in a demonstration organised by Robinson. Whilst overwhelmingly peaceful, the Metropolitan Police reported 26 officers were injured during the event.
As the debate over national symbols continues to divide communities across Britain, the confrontation in Hertsmere highlights the challenge facing local authorities in balancing expressions of patriotism with concerns about extremist infiltration of nationalist movements.
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