Council leader rejects MP's flag removal call

MP Jeevun Sandher said flags were becoming "tatty" and "risk detaching and falling into the road"

The leader of Leicestershire County Council has rejected an MP's call for flags to be removed from lamp-posts.

Labour's Loughborough MP, Jeevun Sandher, wrote to the Reform UK-led authority saying flags were becoming "tatty" and that their "continued presence raises a safety concern".

Sandher also said many of his constituents found the flags flying on lamp-posts "unwelcoming" and it made them "uncomfortable in their own community".

However, council leader Dan Harrison has said St George and union flags would not routinely be taken down by highways workers.

"I love seeing both the union flags and St George's Cross flying proudly across the county and it's great to see people being patriotic," Harrison said.

"I've always said that flying flags must be done safely where there is no serious risk, but otherwise these flags are a welcome addition.

"This authority has no intention of removing flags."

However, he said if flags became tattered and ragged over time, the council might consider removing them.

Sandher, pictured with his wife, Labour MP Louise Jones, said painting flags on roundabouts was "weird"

The flag movement has gathered pace on social media over the past few months, under the name Operation Raise the Colours.

Those behind it said they were motivated by pride and patriotism, but others have expressed discomfort due to tensions running high across England over immigration and the St George Cross often being used to promote far-right groups.

Sandher told the BBC: "It's pretty clear there is a sizeable number of people who do feel a bit uneasy.

"I absolutely agree with national pride and I'm really proud of our flag.

"On the side of how we do we ensure we do bring people together - I'm not sure everybody is turning round saying, 'yes, absolutely, I do want these flags on the side of these lamp-posts'."

'A bit weird'

In his letter to the council, the MP said: "Displays of national pride have their rightful place, but lamp-posts are not it.

"Flags put up in the dead of night, tied to every lamp-post, do not feel like a celebration of community spirit.

"For many they feel [like] a statement about who belongs and who does not. The fact our fellow Brits feel unease should make us all pause and reflect."

In a video posted on Facebook, the MP also said painting flags on roundabouts was "just a bit weird".

In response, Harrison added: "We'll only remove flags if they become a danger.

"St George is our patron saint and the union flag is that of our four nations. Why are we grumbling about that?"

He said he would be writing back to the MP in due course.