A campaign to cover communities in English flags is being driven by far-right groups, anti-racism campaigners have warned. The movement, which has raised thousands of pounds and spread across the Midlands, claims to be purely patriotic but has sparked fears of division and racism.
The Wythall Flaggers group in Worcestershire has raised over £2,000 to 'coat the local community in England flags'. Organisers insist the effort is not racist, pointing to support from people of all ethnicities. However, social media footage shows an elderly couple removing a St George's cross from a lamp-post, with one comment branding them 'traitors'.
Operation Raise the Colours, a Facebook group urging members to post images of flags being raised, has seen users from Walsall, Coventry and Redditch sharing pictures of flags on lamp-posts and roundabouts. The group says it wants to 'bring back patriotism once and for all'.
Anti-racism campaigners say the movement is dangerous and gives cover for far-right activity. Lewis Nielsen of Stand Up to Racism said: 'We are concerned that the discussion around the English flag and patriotism is giving cover for racism driven by the far right.'
The controversy has escalated after Birmingham City Council said it would remove flags from lamp-posts as part of routine maintenance, prompting claims of anti-patriotism. Tower Hamlets Council in London also confirmed it was removing St George flags, while 12 Reform-controlled councils pledged not to take them down.
Downing Street said the prime minister was a 'patriot' who believed people should fly the British and English flags, but declined to comment on the specific campaign.
