RAC worker claims he was sacked after stopping to speak to anti-immigration group leader

An RAC worker says he was left in disbelief after being sacked following an incident in which he stopped to speak to a friend who leads a controversial anti-illegal immigration group.

In an interview with ITV News Central, Abdul Bashir, from Birmingham, claimed he lost his job of six years after being filmed speaking to Ryan Bridge, co-founder of Raise the Colours, on a bridge in Solihull.

Raise the Colours has become known for putting Union Jacks and St George's Cross flags on public lampposts, saying the displays promote patriotism and unity. Anti-racism groups, however, have accused such campaigns of promoting anti-immigration sentiment and far-right messaging.

The incident happened on July 26 when Mr Bashir said he was working and travelling to assist a customer, with an apprentice driving the RAC van.

He said the job was cancelled and, after spotting Mr Bridge putting up flags, asked the apprentice to turn the van around so he could say hello.

Their interaction was broadcast on Facebook Live, showing Mr Bashir getting out of the van, hugging Mr Bridge and having a short conversation.

Mr Bashir said he did not initially know he was being filmed.

A few days later, he received a letter suspending him from his job.

The letter is understood to have raised concerns over the van being stopped and parked in what the RAC considered an unsafe location, Mr Bashir speaking to someone from Raise the Colours and the conversation being shared on social media.

The RAC said the incident amounted to gross misconduct and Mr Bashir was dismissed several weeks later.

Mr Bashir told ITV News Central he believed his association with Mr Bridge, rather than health and safety concerns, was behind the decision.

He said: "If I'm pulling up to say hello to my friend that I've known for 10-15 years, if he's got political views, that's his views.

"Everyone's got their own views. For that reason, what are they sacking me for? Health and safety?

"I haven't really broken the health and safety rule, I had my beacons on, I had my hazards on, it was a quiet road and I wasn't even driving the vehicle.

"And obviously, health and safety wasn't the issue. The issue was they didn't like me shaking hands with Ryan."

The RAC disputed Mr Bashir's account, saying he was dismissed following "multiple breaches of road traffic law, health and safety requirements, and company policy.”

A spokesperson said these included "illegally stopping a patrol vehicle in a live lane, delaying attendance to a stranded member, standing unsafely between two vehicles, and directing a colleague to perform an unlawful manoeuvre.”

They added: "The safety of our members, colleagues, and other road users is paramount, and we act where conduct fails to comply with the law and our standards of conduct. The grounds for dismissal were fully communicated to Mr Bashir following a thorough investigation."

Since losing his job, Mr Bashir has appeared in social media videos alongside Raise the Colours members.