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Flags being taken down !

(55 Posts)
Badgerboy Sat 13-Sept-25 13:09:11

I was wondering what the general opinion is regarding the removal of our St George`s flag from our streets recently ?
In my local area a few flags were put up on lamp posts and within two hours the Council ` anti social `team were removing them .
Apparently it was because they did not want to send the wrong message to the refugees who have taken over a local hotel .
I personally think it is our right to display our flag. It is England. It is our country .
Can you imagine this happening in America ? No chance.
They are also proud of their country and their flag is everywhere.
Interested in everybody`s views on this.

petra Sat 13-Sept-25 13:20:23

It is illegal to attach a flag to a lamp post.
It’s perfectly legal to fly one on your own premises.

Smileless2012 Sat 13-Sept-25 13:28:48

As petra has posted, it is illegal to attach flags to lamp posts.

MayBee70 Sat 13-Sept-25 13:30:04

I’ve seen several flags in various places recently all looking very sad and shabby now.

Harris27 Sat 13-Sept-25 13:30:20

There coming down in droves where we live.

Kate1949 Sat 13-Sept-25 13:34:22

There are lots of Palestinian flags attached to lamp posts around Birmingham. Nobody has taken them down.

BlueBelle Sat 13-Sept-25 13:34:49

Thank goodness Harris they re still flapping here

Allira Sat 13-Sept-25 13:36:03

I expect there'll be some flag-waving tonight.

Last Night of the Proms!

lixy Sat 13-Sept-25 13:43:50

Many St George’s cross flags along the main A road here, especially at roundabouts.

If it was a longstanding practice, as it is in America, to fly the flag I wouldn’t be concerned at all. The motivation behind the current patriotic display worries me a great deal and I wish the flags would come down here.

Ilovecheese Sat 13-Sept-25 14:00:28

No flags in my area. I agree with lixy the motivation for the recent flag hanging is concerning.

Jaxjacky Sat 13-Sept-25 14:05:22

Do you display a flag Badgerboy to show pride in your country, if so, have you always done so, as the Americans have?
Or, have you just recently discovered your love for your country and urge to actively promote it?

Oreo Sat 13-Sept-25 14:07:56

Plenty here, both from lamp posts and in other places, they look to be secured well.
I like to see them tbh and think for the future it will become more common, taking our flag back from any far right groups.
The big demonstration today looks to be peaceful, plenty of flag waving but no bad behaviour so far which is good.

Mt61 Sat 13-Sept-25 14:22:46

Ours were taken down in the morning, back up in the afternoon 👍🏻

CariadAgain Sat 13-Sept-25 14:31:28

Off to google if it really is against the law to fly flags from lampposts - as the relevant law hasnt been quoted - so we don't know if it really exists.

valdavi Sat 13-Sept-25 14:34:34

lixy

Many St George’s cross flags along the main A road here, especially at roundabouts.

If it was a longstanding practice, as it is in America, to fly the flag I wouldn’t be concerned at all. The motivation behind the current patriotic display worries me a great deal and I wish the flags would come down here.

This.

CariadAgain Sat 13-Sept-25 14:35:35

That took about two seconds to find. Couldnt see the word "lampposts" in this - in either direction.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/flying-flags-a-plain-english-guide

Aldom Sat 13-Sept-25 14:54:49

It's illegal under the Highways Act 1980 unless permission has been given. CarriadAgain.

ginny Sat 13-Sept-25 15:53:33

It does depend on the reasoning behind flying a flag on your premises.
However, I don’t t see why we shouldn’t. I certainly don’t think that not wanting to offend refugees or any other cultures should be single a reason.

TillyTrotter Sat 13-Sept-25 18:45:43

We have many still flying in my area - Union flags and England ones.
Mostly on roundabouts of major roads.
I have nothing to back this up but feel it is a passing fad; something started on social media and it became “a thing”.
It will probably pass. Before this Summer only a few houses had patriotic flags in their gardens.

TillyTrotter Sat 13-Sept-25 18:46:30

In America it is much more common to see the “Stars & Stripes” up flagpoles in gardens.

Whitewavemark2 Sat 13-Sept-25 18:50:07

Never have been any here.

People are obviously secure in their Britishness.

Doodledog Sat 13-Sept-25 18:55:03

ginny

It does depend on the reasoning behind flying a flag on your premises.
However, I don’t t see why we shouldn’t. I certainly don’t think that not wanting to offend refugees or any other cultures should be single a reason.

It is only the OP who tells us that the reason for taking the flags down is 'apparently' to avoid giving the wrong impression to refugees, so not a cast iron source by any means. I very much doubt that his/her 'council anti-social team' will have any such brief, but maybe Badgerboy will come back to link to some sort of evidence.

vintage1950 Sat 13-Sept-25 18:58:07

If people want to put up banners on public land they have to apply to the local authority for permission to do so, even if they are promoting a charity fete. Why should people get away with putting up flags - any flags? - on lamp-posts without authorisation? And people who paint flags on mini-roundabouts are putting themselves at risk.

MollyNew Sat 13-Sept-25 19:06:16

We were driving along the motorway a couple of days ago and there were flags attached to the overhead bridges. Some had become partially detached. I wouldn't like to be driving along if one of them became totally detached and landed on my vehicle.

Chocolatelovinggran Sat 13-Sept-25 19:12:25

There are a few locally, but none have been taken down. Some are looking very tatty quite quickly. It's given me new respect for the quality of the few that are raised occasionally in churches , town halls, etc.