Labour MP Sarah Sackman, who serves as the government's Minister for Courts and Legal Services, has called for the removal of Union flags and St George's Cross flags from lamp posts in her constituency, describing them as 'unsettling, intimidating and othering' to the community. Writing in a local newspaper, she declared it was time to 'call full time on flags' following the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup.
Flags described as source of division
Sackman noted that flags have been hoisted on public lamp posts in Temple Fortune and Golders Green without permission long before the World Cup began. She said: 'Since September, huge numbers of flags have been put up on our public property in Barnet. For many members of our community, these flags do not feel like a symbol of national pride, they are a source of division and intimidation.'
The flags are part of the controversial 'Operation Raise the Colours' movement, which saw right-wing activists attaching or painting flags onto lampposts, roundabouts, and other public infrastructure across England last summer.
Previous criticism from another Labour MP
Last year, Labour MP Dr Jeevun Sandher also criticised the activity in a letter to the local council, arguing the flags were 'tatty' and posed a safety risk. He said they 'risk detaching and falling into the road' and described them as 'unwelcoming' to constituents, making people feel 'uncomfortable in their own community'.
In her article, Sackman emphasised: 'People are entitled to fly whatever flags they wish on their own property, but our public places must belong to all. 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.'
Context of the movement
The 'Raise the Colours' movement has been linked to right-wing activism. Its co-founder, Billy Allison, was charged with the murder of a pub owner in May 2026. The flags have sparked debate over national pride versus community cohesion, with Sackman urging the council to act to restore inclusivity.
