Residents of an Essex town have lashed out at their local authority after officials declined to hoist the St George’s flag above the town hall.
Braintree, where residents have hung hundreds of lampposts with national flags, saw council workers removing banners erected by residents.
Locals branded the council’s actions as hypocritical, particularly following leaked official documents from last month that suggested both the St George’s Cross and Union flag could be viewed as “tools of hate”.
Those living nearby insist there is nothing wrong with displaying national pride and have called on the local authority to join in.
Maria Moore, a 56-year-old former assistant catering manager, told The Sun: “Flags are regularly put up here and if taken down, they are soon replaced. I don’t see any problem with showing our patriotism and being British by flying our national flag. I’m proud of our flag, and it looks great.”
Robert Smith, a 72-year-old retired carpenter, added: “We should be proud to be British and keep putting up more flags. In America you see the Stars and Stripes everywhere, it’s a very patriotic country, and so should we be.”
He noted the town hall flagpole remains the sole one in Braintree without a banner.
Kevin Jackson, a 55-year-old lorry driver, said: “This is England, and if I want to fly the Union flag, I should be free to do so and not be afraid of upsetting the Government.”
The Essex council did not fly the flag last week for St George’s Day
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However, not everyone in the area agreed, with others voicing concerns the flags could make people feel intimidated and only fueled division.
Eileen Smith, a 70-year-old retired nurse from nearby Chelmsford, cautioned such displays might leave newcomers feeling excluded.
She said: “I don’t normally agree with the government but I think minority groups are starting to feel unwanted and in troubled times like now, we need to get on with each other.”
Outgoing Conservative Braintree District Council leader Graham Butland responded by explaining Essex County Council removes flags from highway infrastructure when they present a danger to motorists.
St George’s Flags have been sprayed on surfaces over the last two years
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He said: “Flags are removed by Essex County Council from highways infrastructure where they pose a risk to the safety of road users.
“They may also be removed by district, borough or city authorities where they are in breach of planning controls.
“All councils in Essex work alongside each other and are aware of the approach being taken on flags, however, we cannot comment on the merits or otherwise of central government policy.”
Households wishing to fly the national flag face strict planning rules, with penalties reaching as high as £2,500 for those who persistently flout regulations.
Britons could be fined for flying St George’s flags if they break regulations
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PAInitial fines start between £100 and £250, with escalating costs for repeat offenders.
Flags attached to poles projecting from buildings must measure no more than two square metres, while those in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty may require special permission.
The debate around flag displays intensified following Operation Raise the Colours, a campaign that reached its peak in August 2025.
Supporters described the movement as a patriotic celebration of British identity, though critics labelled it “racist” and “hard right”.
Participants decorated public spaces across the West Midlands, Newcastle, Worcester, Bradford and Greater Manchester, painting flags onto roundabouts and street signs.