๐๐ฉ๐๐ฉ๐๐ข๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ข ๐พ๐ค๐ฃ๐จ๐๐ง๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐พ๐ค๐ช๐ฃ๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐๐ง, ๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐ฌ๐๐ง๐๐จ, ๐ค๐ฃ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ฎ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ค๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐๐ก๐๐๐จ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐พ๐ง๐ค๐จ๐จ ๐ค๐ ๐๐ฉ. ๐๐๐ค๐ง๐๐
โThe display of the Union Flag and the Cross of St. George across various locations in the borough forms part of a broader national campaign that has garnered support from senior politicians across the political spectrum. For example, Robert Jenrick has publicly shared images of himself affixing a Union Flag to a lamppost, and the Prime Minister has expressed support for patriotic displays, and has chosen not to intervene in this initiative.
At the heart of this movement lies a growing public concern that the current levels of illegal immigration are unsustainable, poorly managed, and lack a clear resolution. Many residents are voicing their frustrations more openly which is their democratic right.
The flying of national flags is, for many, a peaceful expression of both that frustration and a deep pride in their country and its values, which some feel are changing too rapidly. While I understand concerns about the origins of this campaign, I am not willing to regard our national flags as symbols of racism that must be removed on that basis alone.
There is precedent for the Council to allow peaceful protest via lamppost displays. In the Heathrow villages, for instance, placards opposing the third runway are visible on nearly every lamppost, and we have chosen not to intervene.
I do not accept the notion that everyone who opposes illegal immigration or wishes to express national identity within their community is aligned with far-right ideology. There will come a time when these flags are removed, but this will most likely occur as part of our routine lamppost maintenance programme.โ