Daily Weird News Report
Birmingham city council is asking the High Court to stop members of the Raise the Colours campaign from putting flags on lamp-posts, roundabouts and other public infrastructure across the city.
The application names campaign co-founder Ryan Bridge, seven other individuals and people who have not been identified. The council says its case is based on evidence of incidents involving harassment, intimidation or obstruction directed at staff and contractors assigned to remove unauthorised flags and other attachments.
Raise the Colours describes itself as a grassroots movement promoting unity and patriotism. The group said it had not received or reviewed the court documents and therefore could not comment on the application. In a statement posted on Instagram, it rejected the suggestion that its activities were intended to divide communities.
The campaign is believed to have begun in Birmingham last summer before spreading nationally. Thousands of St George’s flags have since appeared on public infrastructure. Supporters regard the displays as patriotic, while critics have described them as nationalist and intimidating to minority ethnic residents.
Birmingham residents had previously accused the council of allowing the flag campaign to continue without sufficient action. The council said its approach was focused on lawful highway management, public safety, staff and contractor welfare, community cohesion and the proper use of public funds. It urged residents and community groups to place displays only where permission has been granted.
The legal move follows action in Oxfordshire, where the county council obtained a permanent injunction in July against flying flags from lamp-posts. In that case, a judge said council workers and residents had faced abuse or intimidation while flags were being removed. Bridge was among four people who agreed to stop unauthorised flag-hanging in Oxfordshire after that order was granted.
The Guardian also reported that Birmingham residents had presented officials with statements, videos and images concerning confrontations connected to the campaign. Those discussions included a May hit-and-run in which a man was seriously injured after people had gathered to remove flags. Two men were arrested and released on bail in connection with that incident.
Bridge has not been convicted of the allegations mentioned in the reporting. He was arrested in Oxford on suspicion of religiously and racially aggravated harassment without being charged at the time, and he has pleaded not guilty to a common-assault charge arising from an incident in Brighton.
