Across England, patriotic groups are raising Union Jacks and St. George’s flags in quiet defiance of the country’s mass migration agenda. Yet left-wing councils in cities like Birmingham and London have rushed to strip the flags down, citing “safety” concerns — even as they have tolerated Palestinian flags flying for months at a time.
Birmingham’s Labour-run council removed English flags from lamp posts, claiming they endangered motorists. Conservative councillor Robert Alden pointed out the hypocrisy, noting that Palestinian flags were left hanging for over a year, with workers only removing them under police protection out of fear of unrest.
In Tower Hamlets, London, the Aspire Party–controlled council announced that English flags would be taken down “as soon as possible.” The borough’s leadership, under Bangladeshi-born mayor Lutfur Rahman, said it must protect council property. Yet the same officials allowed Palestinian flags to remain up last year until Jewish residents lodged complaints.
The double standard has sparked outrage. Conservative MP Robert Jenrick called it “absurd national self-loathing,” adding: “We must be one country united under the Union flag.”
The flag-raising campaign, dubbed “raise the colours,” follows weeks of protests against the government’s policy of housing thousands of unvetted young male migrants in taxpayer-funded hotels. Locals warn of serious safety concerns for women and girls, citing alleged sexual assaults linked to migrants placed in their communities.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, perhaps wary of inflaming tensions after branding grieving citizens “far-right” following the Southport child stabbing last year, declined to condemn the movement. His spokesman insisted Starmer is “proud to be British” and noted that English flags are displayed at Downing Street during national football matches.
But some on the left are openly hostile. Birmingham professor Kehinde Andrews denounced the national flags as symbols of “white supremacy,” even suggesting Britain should abandon the Union Jack entirely.
Despite efforts to silence it, the “raise the colours” movement continues to grow, reflecting deep frustration among ordinary Britons who see their culture, safety, and sovereignty eroded by unchecked mass migration.
