Birmingham City Council plans £2.6m operation to remove street flags

Birmingham City Council is preparing for a potential £2.6 million operation to remove approximately 20,000 Union Jack and St George’s flags from lampposts across the city. The council has initiated legal proceedings to seek a High Court injunction to prohibit unauthorised attachments on the highway.

The flags were installed as part of ‘Operation Raise the Colours’, a grassroots campaign intended to promote patriotism. The initiative has become a point of contention; while supporters view it as an expression of national pride, critics have linked the movement to far-right sentiments.

Court documents indicate that the removal process is estimated to cost roughly £132 per flag. Officials cited safety concerns and the need for police assistance due to previous instances of staff facing harassment and intimidation. To ensure worker safety, the council noted that removals would likely need to occur during hours of darkness.