Overview

• Tower Hamlets Council confirmed it will remove any Union or St George’s flags tied to council-owned lampposts without permission as part of routine maintenance.
• Birmingham City Council says it has cleared around 200 unauthorised banners and flags from street furniture this year, stressing that all attachments can endanger the public.
• The displays stem from the social media campaign Operation Raise the Colours, which has prompted grassroots groups to affix national flags in multiple towns.
• Senior Conservative figures, including Robert Jenrick and Suella Braverman, have accused the councils of a two-tier approach after earlier allowing Palestinian flags to remain.
• Protests over the flag removals have converged with demonstrations at the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf against migrant housing, leading to police imposing Public Order Act conditions and several arrests.