Sutton Council has spent over £27,000 removing flags from its property between March 2025 and March 2026, with the authority now considering legal injunctions against individuals who repeatedly erect flags on council infrastructure.
Council leader defends flag removal policy
At the full council meeting on July 13, Liberal Democrat leader Barry Lewis reaffirmed the council's stance against unauthorised flag displays. Responding to a question from Reform UK councillor Alison Long, who asked what the council finds offensive about the English flag, Lewis said: 'I find absolutely nothing offensive about the English flag.' He described himself as 'very, very patriotic,' citing his 40 years as a Scout and weekly flag salutes.
However, Lewis stated: 'What we don't want are cheap flags inappropriately tied to lampposts.' He emphasised that national flags should be flown 'with dignity and as a mark of civic pride, and is not abused for other, more divisive purposes.' He added: 'You can fly a flag in your back garden, from your window, or from your car. But what you can't do is fly a flag from one of the council's lampposts.'
Injunction considered after Oxfordshire precedent
During the meeting, fellow Lib Dem councillor Trish Fivey asked whether the council would take action against known individuals who install flags without permission, noting that Oxfordshire County Council had recently secured a permanent injunction against four named individuals. Lewis confirmed he had met with the leader of Oxfordshire's Lib Dem council to discuss the approach and is now assessing its replicability in Sutton.
Fivey also highlighted that Sutton's contractors had experienced 'issues' when removing flags. Lewis said additional security, including from the Kingdom group, had been provided: 'We do have to make sure that our contractors are looked after, cared for, and they're not put into dangerous situations. But we do still need to take the flags down.'
£27,000 spent on flag removal in one year
A Freedom of Information request by resident Richard Johnson revealed that the council spent £27,081 removing flags from council assets between May 1, 2025, and May 1, 2026. During that period, 430 flags were removed from just four locations: Sutton Central, Beddington, St Helier East, and Worcester Park. The council did not identify the types of flags removed.
Lewis acknowledged that some recent displays may have been linked to support for the England national team during the World Cup, but insisted: 'At the end of the football, we will be taking down the flags.' He added: 'It's not right, where does it stop?' to applause from his enlarged Lib Dem majority, which now holds 51 of the 55 council seats.
Community divided over flag controversy
The issue has divided Sutton residents since last year's 'Operation Raise the Colours' phenomenon sparked mass flag raising across the country. In September 2025, the town centre witnessed its first large-scale political face-off in decades, as anti-fascist campaigners confronted Union and St George's flag wavers. The council's policy continues to provoke debate, with some residents supporting the removal of unauthorised flags and others arguing it targets national symbols.
