A council cabinet member said that they “cannot condone” painting on public highways.
Reform-led council ‘cannot condone’ England flag ‘graffiti’ (Image: Stoke On Trent & Newcastle Events Community, News Missing & Info/Facebook)
A Reform UK-run council has said it “cannot condone” people painting St George’s flags on pedestrian crossings. Across the country, people have taken to displaying flags as part of a “patriotism campaign” called Operation Raise the Colours.
Flags have been raised on lampposts, from buildings and in windows as part of a grassroots movement, originating in Birmingham, promoting Anglocentric patriotism. Some members of the public have taken to painting red crosses on public areas with white backgrounds including roundabouts and zebra crossings, with Staffordshire County Council confirming that one of the latter would be removed from a crossing in Audley over public safety concerns. Cabinet member for highways Councillor Peter Mason said: “Although we appreciate people showing their patriotism, we cannot condone painting highway assets in this way.
Adam Jogee MP says he supports displays of flags (Image: -)
“This presents a safety and insurance issue and will have to be removed at the expense of the taxpayer.”
The decision has sparked fierce debate amongst residents over the need for patriotic symbols in public spaces.
One caller on BBC Radio Stoke described the displaying of flags as “pointless”.
She said: “I don’t think it’s got negative connotations as such and I guess it represents England.
“But I know who I am, and I am happy with who I am. I don’t need flags everywhere to tell me.”
Another caller, a man, disagreed, arguing that it was a matter of national pride.
He said: “I don’t think there’s any respect for the country now.
“I think what my father and other people’s fathers died for in the war has been forgotten and I don’t think people respect that.”
Adam Jogee, Labour MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme, told the programme that he was in favour of the displays as long as they were done “smartly, safely and securely.”
He said: “More than anything, it is our flag, it is a way of bringing people together and it’s an important way of demonstrating our belief in pride in our country.”
Earlier this week, Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick, took to the streets to attach a Union Jack to a lamppost, claiming that he was doing so in defiance of “Britain-hating” councils.
Under the Highways Act 1980, a local authority can remove any picture, letter, sign or other mark painted, ascribed or affixed to the surface of a highway.
Staffordshire County Council has been approached for comment.
