Flags have appeared across Nottinghamshire on roundabouts, bridges and lamp-posts following a social-media movement called Operation Raise the Flags promoting pride and patriotism. Mick Barton, leader of the Reform-run county council, said the council would not remove flags but urged people to be sensible and to speak to the council before taking action. Barton warned that defacing council property could carry a fixed penalty notice and said he will work over the next few weeks to develop options to limit excessive displays. Some residents feel discomfort because the St George cross has been used by far-right groups amid tensions over immigration. Nottingham City Council said it would not remove flags unless there was a reason to do so.
We don't want to see thousands of flags on every lamp-post. I am doing a piece of work over the next few weeks to address that situation to see if we can help that situation. I would like people to relax a little bit for a few weeks and then I will come out with an option that will please everybody. If you look at the law, defacing a piece of council property could carry a FPN [fixed penalty notice]. I'm not saying we're going to do that, but let's just be sensible and speak to us before doing anything.
I enjoy driving around the county and seeing our flags flying proudly. You go to other places in Europe and there are flags on every state building. It's good to be patriotic if it's done safely.
People are fed-up and this is showing the power of the people. They have had enough.
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