Robert Jenrick has been spotted raising Union Jacks over Newark as part of the so-called “Operation Raise the Colours”.
The Shadow Justice Secretary, 43, visited volunteers in his Nottinghamshire seat on Wednesday before hoisting the national flag on lampposts on Beacon Hill Road.
Images from the town showed Mr Jenrick grinning as he stood on a stepladder, apparently after affixing a flag to a pole
The top Tory’s campaign on home soil came after he called for Britain to “be one country, united under one flag” in response to Birmingham City Council, which removed British flags from lampposts while leaving Palestinian flags untouched.
“Birmingham Council seem to be ashamed of our country – celebrating everyone other than ourselves,” Mr Jenrick fumed.
“This pathetic self-loathing needs to end.”
Both Birmingham and east London’s Tower Hamlets Council had sparked bitter patriotism rows after pulling down the flag of the United Kingdom.
FLAGS RISE ACROSS THE NATION – READ MORE:
PICTURED: Robert Jenrick and volunteers in Newark before raising Union Flags
In response, patriotic grassroots activists have launched the informal “Operation Raise the Colours” movement, which has made an impact nationwide.
One, Joseph Moulton, an organiser with Flag Force UK, told GB News that his group wanted to make a “positive impact” rather than just “complaining on social media”.
“For us, raising the flag and tidying the local area is about mobilising the community, rekindling social responsibility, and restoring pride in where we live,” Mr Moulton told Britain’s News Channel.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, meanwhile, said: “The Union Flag and St George’s Cross are part of our national identity.
“Displaying these flags shouldn’t just be allowed – it should be encouraged, and they should fly with pride.
“Councils like Birmingham and Tower Hamlets allowed flags of other counties to be displayed for weeks or months.
“But at the first sign of our national flags and they come straight down. More two-tier policy. It is simply wrong.”
Flags have been hoisted from the South Coast to the North East – with the Prime Minister even appearing to back the drive.
PICTURED: Downing Street adorned with English flags. The Prime Minister has claimed to have backed the flag-raising drive
|
PA
The PM’s official spokesman said on Monday: “I think the PM has always talked about his pride of being British, the patriotism he feels.
“I think he’s talked about that previously […] not least recently in relation to the Lionesses’ successful campaign in the Euros.
“Patriotism will always be an important thing to him.”
Asked whether the Prime Minister was supportive of people who raised English flags, the spokesman said: “Absolutely, patriotism, putting up English flags.
“We put up English flags all around Downing Street every time the English football team – women’s and men’s – are out trying to win games for us.”