A Labour minister has called for the removal of Union flags from her constituency.
The placement of Union and St George’s flags on public lampposts has drawn criticism from some of her Finchley and Golders Green constituents, according to Sarah Sackman, the minister of courts.
Residents had described the flags as “unsettling, intimidating, and othering,” so she urged Barnet Borough Council, her local government, to take action.
Since the Operation Raise the Colours campaign gathered momentum on social media last year, St George’s Crosses and Union flags have become a common sight on lampposts throughout the nation.
“I’m calling full time on the flags now that the final whistle has blown on the 2026 World Cup,” Ms. Sackman declared.
During this summer’s football competition, the minister declared that she was “proud to fly our flag” in her office.
“Those who live and spend time in Temple Fortune and Golders Green will know that St George’s and Union Jacks were hoisted on public lamp posts, without permission, long before the World Cup,” she added.
Now is the moment for them to descend. Numerous flags have been displayed on our public property in Barnet since September. Many people in our community view these flags as a source of intimidation and divisiveness rather than a symbol of pride in our country.
“Many locals have expressed worry to me regarding these flags’ appearance. According to messages I’ve heard, they are threatening, uncomfortable, and othering. None of us can overlook that. No one should be made to feel unwelcome in a community as inclusive and diverse as ours.
Ms Sackman referred to Operation Raise the Colours as a “far-Right group” and maintained that the flags had not just arrived.
“This far-Right group, with support from Britain First and Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (also known as Tommy Robinson), has led a racist and aggressive campaign, putting up flags on high streets across Britain, particularly in Oxford, Birmingham, and Essex,” the statement read.
The anti-racism organization Hope not Hate has accused the organisers of Raise the Colours of being “hardened and extreme far-Right activists.”
It identified Andrew Currien, also known as Andy Saxon, as the co-founder of Raise the Colours. Currien has identified himself as a supporter of Robinson, the former head of the English Defence League.
Mr. Currien has maintained that he is neither right-wing nor left-wing and that the sole goal of his campaign is to disseminate hope.
Return the streets to the “inclusive majority”
Councils have come under fire for taking down flags and designating roundabouts with St. George’s Cross. Oxfordshire County Council prevailed in a court case earlier this month to stop flying flags from lampposts.
“Now that the World Cup is over, I am calling on Barnet council to hand our streets back to the tolerant and inclusive majority of the community by removing the flags,” Ms. Sackman stated in a direct appeal to her local government.
Residents Jack and Deborah Miller claimed on Tuesday that they had insulted Ms. Sackman and raised the flags in Barnet.
“I think that comment itself is actually causing division, and it’s divisive,” stated Mrs. Miller. All we want is to live in harmony. All we desire is to be. We take great pride in being Jews. What is the issue with the flag?
Mr. Miller contended that he wished to fly the flag as a way to honour his ancestry. “We have a special prayer for the country in synagogues across the nation on Saturday morning services, where we pray for the Royal family, the King, the Queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and the military,” he stated.
We are also honoured to be citizens of this nation. We also take pride in the ideals that this country has always upheld.
According to a spokesman for Barnet Council, the local government “celebrates with pride” the national flag and flies the Union flag daily over its offices and Hendon town hall.
“The council does not fly flags from its lamp-posts because they are not designed to hold them safely,” the council continued.
“The council will not use limited public resources to remove Union or English flags from lamp-posts until necessary for health and safety grounds, even though the council’s policy has traditionally been to remove flags from council property when there are safety issues.
If removal is required, it will be done at a cost-effective period, like in conjunction with regular lamp-post maintenance.
A Labour politician has demanded that the Union and St George’s flags be removed from her electorate. According to Sarah Sackman, the flags are “a source of division and intimidation” for many of her constituents in Finchley and Golders Green.
Following last year’s Operation Raise the Colours social media campaign, St George’s Crosses and Union banners were displayed on lampposts all throughout the nation. Ms. Sackman wrote for the Barnet Post: “I’m calling full time on the flags now that the 2026 World Cup final whistle has flown.
Long before the World Cup, people who reside and visit Temple Fortune and Golders Green will be aware that St George’s and Union Jacks were unlawfully hung on public lampposts. It’s time for them to take down. “Since September, a large number of flags have been displayed on Barnet’s public property. Many people in our community view these flags as a source of intimidation and divisiveness rather than a symbol of pride in our country.
“A lot of locals have expressed worry to me regarding these banners. According to messages I’ve heard, they are threatening, uncomfortable, and othering. None of us can overlook that. No one should be made to feel unwelcome in a community as accepting and diverse as ours.”
“Hand our streets back to the tolerant and inclusive majority of the community by removing the flags” is what Ms. Sackman urged Barnet Council to do.