A man has taken down St George’s and Union flags in his neighbourhood after a local woman told him she felt like she did “not belong” in the area. Salman Mirza, 58, has removed four flags in Bearwood, West Midlands, as he claims they make non-white people feel unwelcome in their own country.
Flags have been appearing across the UK in recent months as Operation Raise the Colours sweeps the country. Those responsible for putting them up claim they are motivated by patriotism while others fear the flags are provocative at a time when tensions are high over immigration. Some local councils have since taken down flags which has sparked fury among local communities. Mr Mirza, a pro-migrant activist, believes the flags promote anti-immigrant and racist sentiments.
As reported by the BBC, he said: “People have said it’s reminiscent of the 60s, when the Ku Klux Klan burnt crosses outside houses. It’s like a marker isn’t it? ‘This is an area where we don’t like migrants, basically’.”
Sandwell Council, which administers Bearwood, said it was proud to fly flags and had “no specific plans” to remove them. However, they warned against people climbing lamp-posts to attach them or putting up flags which obstruct visibility for motorists.
The council said: “We regularly fly the flag to mark significant events for our country. “We would discourage people from climbing lamp-posts to attach flags and banners for their own safety.
“There are no specific plans to remove flags, but any flags causing an obstruction to visibility, such as on traffic lights and signs, would need to be removed.”
Mr Mirza, who was born in the UK, became the subject of racist social media messages after videos were shared of him taking a flag down on October 5. One message on X called for him to be “detained and deported”.
Mr Mirza said: “I’m the model of integration. I only speak English. I’ve served in the British Army.
“I hardly ever travel abroad, and I spend locally. Yet I’m not good enough, after ticking all their alleged boxes of being the perfect migrant.
“It’s because of the colour of my skin. There is no difference between me and another British person. You can’t get more British than me.”
Sir Keir Starmer said he was “very encouraging” of people putting up national flags. The Prime Minister revealed his family has “got a St George’s flag in our flat” in Downing Street.
When asked whether people putting up the Union and St George’s Cross flags in the wake of asylum hotel protests could be considered racist, Sir Keir told BBC Radio 5 Live: “I am supporter of flags.”
He added: “I am the leader of the Labour Party who put the Union Jack on our Labour Party membership cards. I always sit in front of the Union Jack. I’ve been doing it for years, and it attracted a lot of comment when I started doing it.”
He added: “I’m very encouraging of flags. I think they’re patriotic and I think they’re a great symbol of our nation. I don’t think they should be devalued and belittled. I think sometimes when they’re used purely for divisive purposes, actually it devalues the flag. I don’t want to see that. I’m proud of our flag.”