Prime Minister distances himself from Labour council’s controversial decision to take down Union Jacks and England flags from lampposts citing ‘safety concerns’
Sir Keir Starmer is a “patriot” who backs people flying the flag of St George, Downing Street declared on Monday, as the Prime Minister appeared to distance himself from a Labour-run council removing British flags from city streets.
Whilst Starmer prepared for his crucial White House summit with President Trump and European leaders over Ukraine, his official spokesman was forced to address the growing controversy surrounding Birmingham City Council’s decision to remove Union Jacks and St George’s Cross flags from lampposts.
“I haven’t asked him about specific cases of specific councils,” the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said. “But what the Prime Minister has always talked about is pride in being British, his patriotism in that – not least with the Lionesses in the Euros – and patriotism will always be an important thing to him.”
Council Cites ‘Dangerous’ Flags
The row erupted after Birmingham City Council began removing hundreds of Union Jack and St George’s Cross flags that residents had installed on lampposts across the city in what locals called a “patriotic outpouring.
The Labour-controlled authority declared the flags were “dangerous” and could put lives at risk, despite being positioned up to 25 feet off the ground. The council claimed “unauthorised attachments” on lampposts could potentially cause them to collapse, endangering pedestrians and motorists.
“People who attach unauthorised items to lampposts could be putting their lives and those of motorists and pedestrians at risk,” a council spokesperson said, adding that placing attachments on tall structures like lampposts “can be dangerous.”
Double Standards Allegations
The council’s actions have sparked fierce criticism, with accusations of double standards after it emerged that Palestinian flags had been flying from lampposts across Birmingham for approximately 18 months without similar safety concerns being raised.
Internal communications revealed the council’s reluctance to remove Palestinian flags over fears about public safety during their removal, with officials reportedly seeking police protection before taking them down.
Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick condemned the situation as “blatant two-tier bias against the British people,” arguing the Labour-controlled authority appeared “ashamed of Britain while celebrating other nations.
Patriotic Movement Spreads
The flag displays began in Weoley Castle, initiated by a group calling themselves the “Weoley Warriors” – self-described “proud English men” aiming to show Birmingham and the country their pride in British history, freedoms and achievements.
The movement quickly spread to neighbouring areas including Bartley Green, Selly Oak, and Frankley Great Park, with residents raising nearly £2,500 through a GoFundMe campaign to purchase more flags, poles and cable ties.
“A group of proud English men with a common goal to show Birmingham and the rest of the country of how proud we are of our history, freedoms and achievements,” the fundraising page stated. “Giving hope to local communities that all isn’t lost and they are not alone.”
Pakistan Independence Celebrated
The controversy intensified when Birmingham City Council lit up the city’s library in green and white to mark Pakistan’s independence day – the same week it began removing British flags.
The juxtaposition prompted Reform MP Lee Anderson to issue a scathing response: “If the imbeciles running Birmingham City Council think more about Pakistan than the UK then they should all get on the next flight to Islamabad.
The council has also announced plans to illuminate the library in orange, green and white for India’s independence celebrations.
‘Matter for Councils’
When pressed on the Prime Minister’s stance regarding councils removing the flags, Downing Street adopted a hands-off approach whilst emphasising Starmer’s personal patriotism.
“It’s a matter for those councils,” the spokesman added. “But when it comes to the PM being a patriot, he’s been clear it’s important to him in the past.”
The spokesman continued: “The PM’s always been clear about his pride in Britain, reflected in the fact we often have the St George’s flag, and other flags, flying in Downing Street.”
Community Tensions
The flag removals have exposed divisions within Birmingham, where 29.9 per cent of residents are Muslim. Some residents expressed concern that the sudden surge of national flags could deepen community divisions.
Local 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.
However, the overwhelming majority of responses on local social media pages supported the flag displays, with many residents requesting flags for their own streets.
Council’s Defence
Birmingham City Council maintained its position was purely about safety and routine maintenance, not the flags themselves.
We proudly fly the Union flag outside the Council House every day and recognise the importance of the Union flag and flag of St George as symbols of national pride,” a council spokesperson said.
When it comes to items attached to lamp posts, it is normal council procedure for these to be removed on a regular basis, in line with our health and safety obligations.
The council claimed to have removed over 200 items from street furniture this year, including advertising banners, bunting trails and various flags.
Political Fallout
The controversy comes as Sir Keir Starmer has deliberately embraced patriotic symbolism as part of his efforts to demonstrate Labour has changed since the Jeremy Corbyn era. The Union Jack features prominently in Labour campaign materials and official merchandise.
However, the Birmingham flag row threatens to undermine these efforts, with critics suggesting it reveals tensions within Labour over patriotic displays. Tower Hamlets council in East London has also removed St George’s Cross flags in recent days.
Conservative politicians have seized on the controversy, with one councillor stating: “Displaying these flags shouldn’t just be allowed, it should be encouraged. Councils like Birmingham and Tower Hamlets allowed flags of other countries 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.”
Local councillor Simon Morrall has called for an “amnesty” on flag removals until the end of August, saying residents love the displays and see them as peaceful expressions of pride.
The Weoley Warriors have vowed to reinstall every flag taken down by the council, with a spokesman stating: “We guarantee that there won’t be any disorder from within our group. This is about peace and pride.”
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