This summer saw the proliferation of England flags and ‘Union Jacks’ on lampposts and other street furniture around the country. Some people were jubilant saying it expressed pride in the ‘flag’ and in our country, others felt very angry, sad and intimidated as they saw the action as racism. I was in the latter camp and wrote to my local councillors to express my worries and to ask what RMBC policy was on removing them. I received a reply that told me about the council’s sensible approach to the situation that I found myself agreeing with – see the extract below,
‘The Council’s leadership early on took the view like many other Councils, that wasting Council resources to take the flags down immediately would be counterproductive and may give an unwanted air of publicity to those responsible. It was also thought it might provoke them simply to be at once replaced and perhaps with even more flags. Quite apart from officers having to be sent out again and again, by initially not doing anything it was thought the matter may lose momentum with time. And with hindsight, this seems to have been the right approach many flags have literally been blown away by the recent storm. Some no doubt have been taken down by people annoyed by them.
In due course those left up and deteriorating with the inclement weather will be taken down.
For any directly interfering with lines of sight or obstructive, highways will intervene.
As with mini roundabouts with a red cross painted on them as these are not compliant with traffic regulations.
In a strict sense the lamp posts with flags on them are the responsibility of the PFI partner Eon. But that does not change the Council’s approach’
Well done so far, Rochdale!
I asked the LLM ChatGPT about the flag debacle, and below is the response. Interestingly, the word ‘racism’ isn’t mentioned, and I would have added that the, probably, Chinese flag manufacturers were very happy about the sudden demand for this particular product. No mention of the flag waving being directly as a demonstration against immigrants, either.
Opinions on flags on lamp posts in the UK are divided, with some viewing them as a legitimate expression of patriotism and a positive sign of community spirit, while others see them as provocative, linked to far-right ideologies, or a safety hazard. Supporters often cite pride in the country, with some seeing it as a response to negative media coverage or government actions. Concerns include that the St. George’s Cross is used by extremist groups and that the flags can make minorities feel unsafe. Local councils may remove flags for safety reasons or due to long-standing policies against attaching anything to street furniture.
Arguments for flags
Patriotism: Many see the flags as a simple and acceptable way to show pride in the country.
Community spirit: Some groups that put up flags say it’s about bringing “a bit of colour to the streets” and fostering unity.
Reclaiming symbols: Some argue that taking down the flags would be a victory for extremists, and keeping them up can help “reclaim” national symbols for everyone.
Arguments against flags
Intimidation and division: A significant concern is that the flags, particularly the St. George’s Cross, are associated with far-right groups and can make minority groups feel unwelcome or unsafe.
Safety hazard: Attaching anything to lampposts can be a safety risk to traffic if the flags become loose. It is also an offence to attach things to street furniture without permission.
Lack of enthusiasm for other flags: Some point out the perceived contradiction between the enthusiasm for flying the St. George’s Cross and the lack of support for other symbols, such as Pride flags.
Low quality and maintenance: Some online commenters have noted that the flags are often cheap and are left to become tattered, creating a visual blight.