During a recent council meeting, two councillors from Greater Manchester requested the removal of flags attached to lamp-posts following concerns raised by residents.
England flags and Union Jacks have been appearing across Greater Manchester and other areas as part of the “Operation Raise the Colours” campaign. This initiative encourages people to display flags in public spaces. However, the presence of these flags has sparked mixed reactions within communities.
Jon Byrne, a councillor representing the Manor ward of Stockport, addressed the issue during the meeting. He revealed that many residents had contacted him to express their “upsetting concern” about the flags displayed in the area. Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Byrne said:
> “We need to make a stand and we need to show that any form of racism is unacceptable, even when dressed up as patriotism. I will re-ask, as I have done countless times over the past few months, take the flags down without delay.”
Supporting this stance, Labour councillor Claire Vibert, who represents the Heatons South ward, also voiced her concerns. According to the Manchester Evening News, she said:
> “Sometimes it’s hard but we have to just do the right thing, so I just wanted to lend my voice to the request from councillor Byrne that the flags are taken down and that we show our communities that we don’t tolerate acts that are intended to intimidate other members of our community.”
In September, Stockport Council released an official statement regarding its position on flags in public spaces. The council stated that flags would remain unless they posed safety risks or contained offensive slogans. They also noted that flags could be removed if they became damaged or worn over time.
Councillor Mark Roberts, appointed leader of Stockport Council in May 2025, commented on the situation:
> “I do understand your concerns about the flags, and I can honestly say it hasn’t been an easy situation to navigate. But like councils across the country, we have been reflecting on the best way to respond to protest activity and to flags on our street furniture without further inflaming community tensions.”
He added that discussions have been ongoing with cabinet members, council officers, Greater Manchester Police, and community partners. For now, the flags are allowed to stay, but the council will actively remove any that pose safety threats or carry inappropriate messages.
> “It’s also likely that they will need to be removed in due course once they become damaged and worn, and graffiti will be dealt with as we always have as a council,” said Cllr Roberts.
He explained that in some areas where councils have removed flags, replacements appeared quickly, which risked increasing tensions and endangering staff. Furthermore, removing the flags might send a misleading message that the flag itself is divisive, when the intention is for it to represent everyone.
Following the rise of English flags displayed across parts of the country during the summer, Downing Street expressed support for those displaying the flags. A spokesman for Keir Starmer commented on the Prime Minister’s position:
> “The PM has always talked about his pride of being British, the patriotism he feels. Not least recently in relation to the Lionesses’ successful campaign in the Euros. Patriotism will always be an important thing to him. We put up English flags all around Downing Street every time the English football team, women’s and men’s, are out trying to win games for us.”
According to the official government website, flags serve as emotive symbols of local and national pride:
> “Flags are a very British way of expressing joy and pride. They are emotive symbols which can boost local and national identities, strengthen community cohesion, and mark civic pride.”
The government encourages the flying of more flags — particularly the Union Flag — as it represents national unity and pride. Recent guidance promotes flying the Union Flag on all UK government buildings throughout the year, alongside other national and local flags.
The government also urges local authorities and organizations to follow this example, making it easier for the Union Flag to be flown alongside other flags to highlight local and national identities, as well as to celebrate special days or civic events.
It’s important to note that, in England, the flying of flags is regulated by planning laws to ensure they do not impact safety or local amenity. While some flags require formal consent from local planning authorities, the Union Flag does not.
The ongoing discussions and differing perspectives around flag displays reflect the balance councils are trying to maintain between community cohesion, freedom of expression, and public safety. As the situation develops, local authorities will continue to monitor flag displays and respond accordingly.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/manchester-councillors-demand-flags-uk-36056195