Campaigners are pushing Birmingham City Council to seek a High Court injunction that would restrict the display of Union Jack and St George's flags on public infrastructure in the city. The move follows similar legal action in Oxfordshire, where the county council secured an injunction against unauthorised flag displays on or near public highways.
Who is behind the push?
The group Brummies United Against Racism is urging the council to take action against Raise the Colours, which has been placing Union Jack and St George's cross flags on lamp-posts, roundabouts and other public infrastructure since summer 2025. Raise the Colours describes itself as a "grassroots movement for unity and patriotism," but opponents accuse it of promoting anti-immigration rhetoric and racism – claims the group rejects.
A member of Brummies United Against Racism told The Guardian: "We've been lobbying the council continuously to remove the flags and they've been really dragging their heels about it." She said the council and West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster had been presented with a compilation of evidence including statements, videos and images of incidents involving Raise the Colours. She added: "Action needs to be taken against this group. People are being intimidated, people are being threatened, people are being doxed."
Political and council responses
Green Party councillor Duncan Ali said there was a "huge amount of evidence of the aggressive, intimidating, violent behaviour of Raise the Colours and that is being used to request an injunction against that organisation." He added: "As Green party councillors, I'm not going to sit back and let this continue. It will be stopped. It may take time, and it may cost money, but it will be stopped."
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster said: "I have consistently and repeatedly encouraged Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Police to take proactive and robust action to prevent and tackle any and all harassment, alarm, distress or other criminal behaviour associated with the illegal erection of flags and that includes an application for a civil injunction. I trust that proactive and robust action will be taken to resolve this matter at the earliest possible opportunity."
A Birmingham City Council spokesman said attaching "unauthorised" items, such as flags, to public infrastructure was "not permitted, and any such items will be removed." The spokesman added: "We are aware that recent flag related activity has contributed to increased tensions in some areas, and we encourage all residents to act responsibly and respectfully to help maintain calm, reduce the risk of intimidation, and support community cohesion during this period."
Community reactions
In February, around 150 local residents gathered in a Birmingham suburb for a "de-flagging celebration," taking down Union Jack flags from lamp-posts that had been put up a week earlier as part of "Operation Raise the Colours." Co-founder of Raise the Colours, Ryan Bridge of Bromsgrove, has rejected claims that the actions were racist and said the aim was to promote patriotism and national unity. However, local resident and activist Carol Williams said at the "de-flagging celebration" that the flags had become "symbols of division."
