Reform UK launch ‘patriotic flag pact’ as councils vow NOT to remove St George Cross and Union Jacks from lampposts

The Reform councils cite both flags as symbols of unity and inclusion, and have said that they will not be taken down.

The move follows both Tower Hamlets Council and Labour-controlled Birmingham City Council removing the patriotic flags that have been hung from lampposts as part of "Operation Raise the Colours".

In Birmingham, despite being up to 25ft off the ground, the local authorities claimed that the flags, which had been raised in a "patriotic outpouring", put the lives of pedestrians and motorists "at risk".

A reform UK spokesman described the move as "shameful".

A leaked internal message has revealed Birmingham City Council's apprehension about removing Palestinian flags without law enforcement assistance.

Leader of Reform UK Nigel Farage said: "Union flags and the Cross of St George should and will fly across the country. Reform UK will never shy away from celebrating our nation.”

Leader of Lancashire County Council and Chair of the Reform UK Local Government Association group, Stephen Atkinson, said: "Reform UK councils are clear: where done sensibly, we fully support the flying of Union and St George flags on lampposts.

"These flags are not only a sign of unity and inclusion, but also of national pride. We will never get in the way of those who wish to express love for their country."

Tower Hamlets council, in east London, vowed to remove the flags, with a spokesman for the Aspire Party-led council saying: "We are aware members of the public have been putting up St George's flags on various structures.

The spokesman added: "While we recognise people wish to express their views, we have a responsibility to monitor and maintain council infrastructure. Where flags are attached to council-owned infrastructure without permission, they may be removed as part of routine maintenance."

Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick has also condemned the situation as "blatant two-tier bias against the British people".

He argued that the Labour-controlled authority appeared ashamed of Britain while celebrating other nations.

Jenrick said: "We must be one country, united under one flag."

He described it as "a damning indictment" that the council seemed intimidated into requiring police assistance for removing unauthorised foreign flags.

A Birmingham council spokesman confirmed they had removed over 200 items from street furniture this year, including Palestinian flags, though some had been subsequently replaced.

The spokesman added: "People who attach unauthorised items to lampposts could be putting their lives and those of motorists and pedestrians at risk.

"We (are) continuing to do this every week and would ask that staff doing this work are allowed to continue this work unhindered.

"Placing unauthorised attachments on street furniture, particularly tall structures like lampposts, can be dangerous – that is why the council always has to ‘stress test’ assets around any formal events or celebrations."

Reform UK currently controls:

·Kent County Council

·Lancashire County Council

·Durham County Council

·Staffordshire County Council

·Lincolnshire County Council

·Leicestershire County Council

·Worcestershire County Council

·Nottinghamshire County Council

·Derbyshire County Council

·Warwickshire County Council

·West Northamptonshire Council

·North Northamptonshire Council