Oxfordshire county council is pursuing an injunction against the Raise the Colours campaign group following the widespread attachment of England flags to lampposts throughout the county. The campaign, which began in August of the previous year, has seen a notable concentration of flags in and around Oxford. While the group claims its actions are driven by pride and patriotism, the flag-raising activities have been associated with anti-immigration demonstrations.
Costs and Controversy
The council reports spending £15,000 to remove over 300 union and St George's cross flags from lampposts. The leader of the flag group, Ryan Bridge from Birmingham, was arrested in April on suspicion of causing religiously and racially aggravated harassment. This arrest followed an incident where he and his group filmed themselves raising flags around Oxfordshire.
Residents have expressed complaints online, describing the flags as looking “awful,” particularly at the Headington roundabout on the outskirts of Oxford. In response, some locals have begun displaying flags of other nations, including Ireland and Jamaica, alongside the England flags as a form of protest.
Legal Actions
In April, Oxfordshire county council issued a legal notice prohibiting the group from erecting flags, characterizing the activity as an “act of intimidation and division.” However, the flag-raising persisted, prompting the council to seek a high court injunction, scheduled for a hearing on 23 June. The council asserts that the flag incidents have involved “trespass, obstruction of the highway, and incidents where council teams, contractors, and residents have faced confrontation or harassment.” Additionally, council teams have reportedly been subjected to abuse and harassment during flag removal operations.
If granted, the injunction would forbid further flag-raising on or near highways and empower the authority to take enforcement action in case of breaches. The court filing names specific individuals associated with Raise the Colours. It is worth noting that the unauthorized placement of flags on highway infrastructure already constitutes a criminal offense.
Council's Stance
The council argues that the flag-raising “has created clear road safety and public safety risks and caused distress in local communities.” Council leader Tim Bearder stated: “This application is about protecting our residents, our workforce, and the values we stand for as a county.” He emphasized that the issue is not about the flags themselves, adding: “We proudly fly the union flag and St George's flag at County Hall, and we fully support the right of residents to display flags on their own private property.” However, he stressed “there's an important distinction between lawful expression and activity that puts people at risk or intimidates residents in their own communities.”
Regarding the Raise The Colours campaign, Bearder remarked: “This activity is not about national pride or unity. It is unlawful behavior, which has caused fear and division within our communities. We have a clear responsibility to keep people safe and ensure our public spaces are welcoming and inclusive for everyone.”
Criticism and Timing
Some critics have pointed out that the injunction application coincides with the World Cup, a time when many people wish to display England flags. The high court is set to hear the council's application on the same day England faces Ghana in their second World Cup fixture. Liam Walker, a Conservative councillor in Oxfordshire, told the Telegraph: “With the World Cup now under way and communities across the country coming together to support their national teams, many residents will question whether this is really the right time to be escalating matters further through the courts.”
The Tory party chair, Kevin Hollinrake, labeled the injunction as “shameful” and urged the Lib Dems to “get off their virtue-signalling high horse and get behind our flag.”
