Council spent £8k removing hundreds of flags

More than £8,000 was spent removing 400 Union and St George's flags from a city's public places.

The flags were taken down from lampposts, bridges, road signs and roundabouts in Southampton after going up as part of a movement known as Operation Raise the Colours last summer.

A Freedom of Information request revealed Southampton City Council removed 398 flags at a cost of £8,100 between August 2025 and late April this year.

The council said displaying flags on lampposts or street furniture without approval is not permitted.

Labour councillor Toqeer Kataria said the decision was based on "consistent and appropriate use of council-owned infrastructure across the city".

He added: "Southampton City Council fully supports people's right to celebrate their identity, culture and heritage, but this must be done in a safe, responsible and lawful way."

Conservative group leader Peter Baillie accused Labour of changing its removal policy without telling anyone, saying it was "one more demonstration of the lack of desire by Labour to celebrate anything to do with being English or British".

Former Labour council leader Alex Winning, who lost his seat in May's elections, said there had never been a policy allowing people to "randomly cable tie flags to lampposts" and that councils of all political colours had removed unauthorised flags for the same reason.

He said many of the flags had been fitted poorly, left to become shabby or even hung upside down.

He added: "That isn't respectful and it certainly isn't patriotic."

Green Party group leader Matt Renyard said some flags had been put up as an act of intimidation and left to degrade into a poor condition, creating environmental hazards and diverting resources from other maintenance work.

Reform UK deputy group leader Philip Crook said the flag was "a great unifying symbol" which should be "flown appropriately, maintained, and with respect".

He added that the council had a duty to ensure public property was properly maintained.