'I think it's great. Fly the flag and fly it proud': Dudley Council leader praises flag flying campaign
A Black Country council leader has welcomed the flying of flags from lamp posts, and encouraged more people to join in.
Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of Dudley Council, said the 'raise the colours campaign', which began in Birmingham, represented ordinary people reclaiming British flags which had in the past been hi-jacked by the far-right.
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Birmingham Council sent a team of contractors out to remove flags which began appear in the Northfield area in July this year, citing safety concerns. Councillor Jame Tennant, said 'we know who it is', adding 'there’s a couple of eople spoiling for a fight for political reasons'.
Wolverhampton Council leader, Councillor Stephen Simkins, said the council did not have the time or the money to go around policing flags as a matter of routine, but said they would be removed if they posed a safety risk.
But Councillor Harley said the trend was something to be welcomed, and encouraged people to show their patriotism.
"I think it is a great wave of patriotism that people are displaying the Union Flag and also the St George's flag, and I think it is great, and long may it continue," he said.
"Those flags will remain in place, the only way we will order officers to take them down is if they are causing a hazard or an obstruction to traffic.
"To those people who find it offensive,. I say to you that the reason it is offensive is because for years we have surrendered the flag to the extreme right in this country, and now normal people, not rabid right wingers, normal people, are claiming the flag, and I think that is a great thing to happen.
"I'm proud in this authority to say to people fly the flag, and fly it proud."
