Overview

• Birmingham City Council has hired temporary MEWP operators for an October night shift ‘blitz’ to take down Union and St George’s Cross flags attached to lamp-posts and other public assets.
• Job adverts for contractor Kier specify paired cherry-picker roles removing unauthorised attachments, with pay reported at £22–£25 per hour and potential extensions beyond October 31.
• Leek Town Council said its town-centre flags and bunting are being taken down on the usual annual schedule to install and test Christmas lights, warning that abuse of contractors will not be tolerated.
• Council statements stress that residents may fly flags on their own property, but items fixed to highway furniture are unauthorised and subject to removal for health and safety.
• The flag campaign’s national spread has drawn praise from far-right figures and concern from anti-racist groups, with recent confrontations and threats including a Derby councillor reporting a rape threat under police investigation.