A Reform UK councillor has hit out at the ‘pointless’ move.
File image of Union and St George’s flags on lampposts (Image: Getty)
A Lib Dem-run council’s threat to prosecute anyone deemed to have put up flags on lampposts without permission has been slammed as “perverse”. A Reform UK councillor disagreed with the move by Shropshire Council, singling out the cost of such legal action as a particular concern.
The local authority announced the plans last week after previously confirming unauthorised flags, including Union flags, on lampposts and other street furniture would be removed due to safety concerns. Brendan Mallon, deputy leader of Shropshire Council’s Reform group, said the council going after flag-flyers “constitutes expensive displacement activity” when it should instead be focusing on its own finances.
Union and St George’s flag on a lamppost in Birmingham (file image) (Image: Getty)
He said: “The idea that the council will spend money we simply don’t have, during a declared financial emergency, on pointless legal actions is perverse.”
Speaking to GB News, he added: “I have sat in Planning Committee meetings where council legal officers have repeatedly cautioned committee members about the potential legal costs if a large property developer takes legal action if we reject their plans, yet they are very happy now to fund legal cases against individual citizens?”
He said flags being flown in Shropshire are “mounted securely in safe locations and well-maintained” and dismissed claims they are being used to “intimidate particular groups or communities”.
Union and St George’s flags began appearing across the country last summer.
Activists behind the flags have said it is a display of patriotism, while critics have accused them of sowing division amid heightened tensions over immigration.
Councillor David Vasmer, portfolio holder for highways and environment who announced the legal action plans, said: “To reiterate, across our communities, we recognise there are a range of views about the flags, as a council we respect these different views, our aim as a council is to balance these different views, while keeping our residents and public spaces safe, respectful and compliant with policy.
“We therefore have made our position on flags clear, we support the Union Flag and putting up the Union Flag is not a hate crime, we have never said it was.
“What we do not support is the unauthorised attachment of flags, or any other objects being attached to street lighting, highway infrastructure or other public street furniture due to health and safety issues.”
Shropshire Council has reported a rise in residents, staff and councillors facing abuse, harassment and intimidation “directly linked” to the removal of unapproved Union flags.