Reform council calls for 'official' roundabout flags to 'show pride in our country'

Zia Yusuf disagrees with Reform councillor who condoned painting roundabouts the St Georges flag

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Aymon Bertah

By Aymon Bertah


Published: 14/09/2025

- 21:16

The council has yet to confirm whether it was considering making it an 'official policy'

A prominent member of a Reform-led county council has called on the authority to paint the St George flag on all of its mini-roundabouts.

Lancashire County councillor Brian Moore suggested the move at a council meeting where all but a handful of flags were banned from being flown over municipal buildings.


It comes after roundabouts across the UK were illegally painted with red crosses on white backgrounds as part of the St George's Cross and Union Jack campaign.

The organised effort is under the name "Operation Raise the Colours" which also saw people across Britain hanging English and British flags outside their homes.

The council has not confirmed whether it was considering Mr Moore's call for it to be an "official policy".

Union Jacks and St George flags across Britain has caused widespread debate about whether it is a trend of national pride or an attempt to "weaponise" the symbols.

It is amid ongoing tensions around illegal immigration and asylum seeker hotels, causing protests across the country.

So much so, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer vowed on Sunday to "never surrender" the flag to "those that use it as a symbol of violence, fear and division".

The St George's cross has been painted on mini-roundabouts across Birmingham

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That comes after up to 150,000 protesters packed central London on Saturday as part of activist Tommy Robinson - real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon's Unite the Kingdom rally.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed 26 officers were injured, including some with broken teeth, while 25 arrests had been made as a result of "disorder [and] violence" directed at the police.

"Britain is a nation proudly built on tolerance, diversity and respect," Sir Keir said.

"Our flag represents our diverse country.

Union Jacks attached to lamp posts in Birmingham

Union Jacks hanging up in Birmingham as part of the 'Operation Raise the Colours'

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"And we will never surrender it to those that use it as a symbol of violence, fear and division."

Meanwhile, at the Lancashire County Council meeting, where Mr Moore made the suggestion, the authority confirmed its policy that no flags other than the Union Jack, St George flag, Lancashire County flag, Lancashire County Council flag, Armed Forces flag, Commonwealth flag and the merchant Navy flag.

He told the meeting: "I am very proud of the British and Union flag".

"(I) fully support our flag policy," Mr Moore added.

"I don't believe it's weaponising it by saying that we, as a council, want to put it up there and show pride in our country."

Mr Moore said he believed "and I will suggest this later outside the meeting" that all white roundabouts be as part of an "official policy" should have a red cross painted on them.

Lancashire County Council, in response to the recent roundabouts painted with the St George flag, said it would "like to remind people that painting on or altering highway assets presents significant safety risks".

"And any unauthorised markings which pose a hazard for highway users may need to be removed at the expense of the taxpayer," the council added.

""We encourage people to report any highways matters if there are concerns over safety."

The council said it will "assess whether there is a safety issue in this instance and if action is needed".

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