Overview

• Birmingham City Council has started taking down hundreds of St George’s and Union flags from lamp-posts across south-west Birmingham, citing dangers to motorists and pedestrians.
• Organisers known as the Weoley Warriors have raised public donations for flags and pledge to reinstall any removed displays in an ongoing campaign.
• Claims about the operation’s scope vary widely, with group spokespeople asserting up to 1,500 flags and fundraising between £1,800 and £4,000 without independent verification.
• The removals have drawn national political commentary, including criticism from Reform UK’s Lee Anderson and local Conservatives alleging bias, while council leaders maintain the actions are strictly safety-driven.
• Opponents reference the council’s recent lighting of the Library of Birmingham for Pakistan and India independence days to highlight perceived double standards on flag permissions.