Birmingham Council Faces Pressure Over “Raise the Colours” Flag Campaign

Since last summer, the grassroots group Raise the Colours has been attaching Union Jack and St George’s Cross flags to lamp-posts, roundabouts and other public infrastructure across Birmingham. Residents say the displays have been accompanied by intimidation, threats and doxxing of opponents. In May, a man was seriously injured in a hit-and-run while a crowd attempted to remove flags; West Midlands police confirmed two men were arrested in connection with the incident and later released on bail. Council officials have warned that the unauthorised erection of flags is “not permitted” and that any such items will be removed, while the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Simon Foster has urged the council to seek a civil injunction.

The Guardian

A similar dispute unfolded in Oxfordshire, where the county council secured a High Court injunction that barred the unauthorised hanging of flags on or near public highways and named four individuals, including Raise the Colours co-founder Ryan Bridge. Oxfordshire’s claim noted that contractors removing flags faced “hostility and obstruction” and that Bridge had been arrested in Oxford on suspicion of religiously and racially aggravated harassment in April, and later charged with common assault by Sussex police after a June incident in Brighton. The French interior ministry’s 10-year travel ban on Bridge and others—issued after the group was accused of attempting to block migrant boats in the Channel—has also been cited by Birmingham activists as evidence of the group’s extremist ties.

The Guardian

Simon Foster, West Midlands PCC, said: “We understand the strength of feeling around the issue of flags and will continue to listen to the concerns of local communities.” — Simon Foster He added that proactive and robust action, including a civil injunction, was needed “at the earliest possible opportunity.” A Birmingham city-council spokesperson reiterated that attaching unauthorised items to public infrastructure is prohibited and urged residents to act responsibly to maintain calm and community cohesion.

The Guardian

Local anti-racism activist Sara, a member of Brummies United Against Racism, has called for an injunction, stating, “Action needs to be taken against this group.” “Action needs to be taken against this group,” — Sara Green Party councillor Duncan Ali warned that the council was “We’re hearing now that [the council] is weeks away from getting an injunction but for us, it’s a little too late.”

The Guardian

These combined pressures have intensified calls for Birmingham’s authorities to move swiftly toward legal action against Raise the Colours.

The Guardian