A proud north-west England council has vowed to keep national flags attached to lamp-posts flying after stressing they won’t be taken down. Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council have said they won’t be routinely taking down St George’s or Union flags as other local authorities are blasted for removing theirs.
A spokesperson for the Labour-run council promised: “We fly the Union flag outside our two town halls every day, and recognise the importance of the Union flag and the flag of St George as symbols of national pride.” Earlier this the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer – 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 – told BBC Radio 5 Live: “I am supporter of flags.
“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.”
The Prime Minister also said his family has “got St George’s flag in our flat” in Downing Street.
He went on: “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.”
Flags have started appearing on lampposts, across motorway bridges and along streets in the UK in recent weeks.
The Union Flag and St George’s flag – which do not often appear outside sporting, royal or military events – have been pictured in several English cities, while red crosses have been painted over white mini-roundabouts and on zebra-crossings.
During recent anti-migrant protests in the UK, some have been seen carrying or wearing the Union Flag and St George’s flag.
Now chiefs at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council have said they will not be routinely taking down national flags which have been attached to lampposts.
Elsewhere in the UK, Cornwall Council has accused those who attach flags to lampposts of “disrespecting” the Union flag and said that, as the authority will be removing them, “such action will cost our taxpayers money which could be better spent on fixing potholes or improving the roads”.
But Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council has now confirmed that it will not be routinely removing flags, after some were seen flying from lampposts close to Darwen Vale High School near to Junction 4 of the M65.
Other residents in Darwen have used attachments on their properties, typically used to hold Christmas trees, to fly national flags.
A spokesperson for the Labour-run council added: “We fly the Union flag outside our two town halls every day, and recognise the importance of the Union flag and the flag of St George as symbols of national pride.
“We also fly flags from council-owned flagpoles in our town centres as part of national ceremonial events such as the recent VJ Day anniversary. We have a general policy of removing any offensive language graffiti.”
While Councillor Phil Riley, the leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “Whilst we won’t be removing all flags as part of our regular highway inspections, we will prioritise anything that is a hazard, either to drivers or pedestrians.
“These are kept for seven days if they are still fit for use. Owners are invited to collect them and they can be displayed safely at their home or private land.”
Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council isn’t the only local authority to take a pragmatic view of flags being attached to lampposts. Councils in Kent, Worcestershire and Derbyshire have also said they won’t be routinely removing flags.