Keir Starmer breaks silence on councils ripping down Union Jack flags

Sir Keir Starmer's spokesperson says the Prime Minister "absolutely" supports people raising English and British flags. It comes amid uproar after two local authorities in England took down flags from council properties put up as part of a patriotic movement known as Operation Raise the Colours.

Asked what the Prime Minister's view is on the councils that have removed the flags, the PM's official spokesman said on Monday: "I think the PM has always talked about his pride of being British, the patriotism he feels. I think he's talked about that previously [...] not least recently in relation to the Lionesses' successful campaign in the Euros. Patriotism will always be an important thing to him."

Asked if Sir Keir is supportive of people who put up English flags, the spokesman said: "Absolutely, patriotism, putting up English flags.

"We put up English flags all around Downing Street every time the English football team - women's and men's - are out trying to win games for us."

The orders to remove the flags were issued by Tower Hamlets Council in east London and Birmingham City Council.

On Monday, flags could still be seen attached to lamposts in both the Isle of Dogs and areas of the Second City.

Birmingham Council said the flags had been removed on safety grounds, claiming "unauthorised items to lampposts could be putting their lives and those of motorists and pedestrians at risk".

While Tower Hamlets Council said it was removing flags because it has a "responsibility to monitor and maintain council infrastructure", adding they were "attached to council-owned infrastructure without permission".

Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick accused the local authority, run by the pro-Gaza Aspire Party, of "two-tier bias" as it reportedly didn't take down Palestine flags for months after they were put up following the start of the Israel-Hamas war.

He told The Telegraph: "Tower Hamlets council have allowed Palestinian flags to be publicly displayed on lampposts but not the flag of our country.

"This absurd national self-loathing must end. This is yet more two-tier bias against the British people. We must be one country united under the Union flag."

George Webb, 24, who was among the hundreds of residents in Birmingham to raise flags, told the Express the removal decision by the city's Labour-run council is "ludicrous".

Some people frustrated by the council raised how the Library of Birmingham was lit up in orange, green and white on Friday to mark India's independence, hours after doing the same for Pakistan.

The city council said it flies the British flag outside the Council House every day and "recognises importance of the Union flag and flag of St George as symbols of national pride", adding: "Brummies are proud to be British and proud that this is a welcoming city celebrating many different cultures."