Row breaks out over local councils’ removal of England and Union flags

Transcript

00:00A row has broken out between local councils and campaigners after England and Union flags were

00:05removed from lampposts across the country. Flags have been taken down in Tower Hamlets in East

00:11London as well as in Birmingham. St George's cross flags were pictured on an A road on the

00:15Isle of Dogs after campaigners attached them following an online movement called Operation

00:20Raise the Colours. The local councils have since removed the flags, citing routine maintenance as

00:25the reason. Tower Hamlets Council said it has a policy setting out which flags are flown from

00:30council buildings and on which occasions. It went on to say, while we recognise people wish to express

00:36their views, we have a responsibility to monitor and maintain council infrastructure. Where flags

00:42are attached to council-owned infrastructure without permission, they may be removed as part of routine

00:47maintenance. Similarly, Birmingham City Council said it recognises the importance of the Union flag and

00:53flag of St George as symbols of national pride, but that they had to be removed in line with its

00:58health and safety obligations. Keir Starmer's official spokesperson responded to the removal of the

01:03flags saying that patriotism is a very important thing and that the Prime Minister is absolutely

01:08supportive of people putting up English flags. However, some people have argued that the erecting of

01:14these flags is pointed and a politically charged move. The row is unlikely to end soon, as campaigners or

01:21self-proclaimed patriots are continuing to put up flags across the UK to protest their removal.