AIBU to think tatty lampost flags are imposing on communities?

I completely agree. How stupid do people think we are, with that ridiculous line about other countries being proud to fly their flag? I have no issue with a flag flying from a proper flag pole, in a church for example. Hanging them from lamp posts and bridges is pathetic.

I think you do. My take is that the flags have been put up as a result of racist twats embracing their inner chimp. The cheap shite then disintegrates and becomes litter. The local council (or similar) then spends money clearing up.

But we're not talking about every flag - we're talking about the flags cable tied to lampposts by those encouraged by some individuals with questionable motives. These individuals also have criminal records and have been given tens of thousands of pounds (maybe more) in 'donations' to personal bank accounts after making stupid videos suggesting they are stopping boats and 'raising the colours'. They are criminal grifters, one of them wanted for fraud in Spain.

I know people who would ordinarily have flown flags during the world cup but decided against it this year because it's been tainted for them and no longer feels celebratory.

Lol wee hallions! 😂

I can understand that flying the Union Flag in Northern Ireland is used as an intimidating tactic with the history of the Troubles. But this does not mean that flying the flag in the rest of UK is intimidating as well. To make a sweeping statement that the flag is used to always intimidate is making a huge generalisation.

There is no 'faux innocence' here. I am aware that some are using it to their own political ideals but this doesn't mean that every flag put up = racist.

More faux innocence.
I've not been to another country where a group promulgated by rascist thugs are zip tying cheap nylon flags half way up lampposts and telegraph poles, against the wishes of many local people.

Smart flags flown on high days and holidays from official flagpoles, or flagpoles on people's own property - no issues at all.

You seem to have a very limited grasp of the culture across the UK which is ironic given how nationalistic you claim to be.

I many areas of NI the union flag is absolutely used to be intimidating.

She's not wrong though

I quite like them @Warmlight1 but I live oop North in a multicultural area (not perfect, lots of tension at times. You know, real life). People seem pretty good at changing them when they get tatty. I like the colour and seeing different cultures being represented, even the St George's flag shock horror.
I hope they are maintained in winter and not left to fade etc, my opinion might be different then.

My argument is about flags in general. There doesn't have to be an all or nothing approach.

Just because I like to see flags flying doesn't mean I am allying myself to a racist campaign!

Flying the flag is not racist.

Allying yourself to a racist campaign run by violent racists is at least racist-adjacent.

'Claim part of another country' ? I don't understand what you mean.

When I visit another country, I expect to see flags flying of the country I am visiting. I don't get intimidated. I like to see it.

The problem is with this generalisation that flying the flag in this country is negative. There is an inference that we should be ashamed of the national flag. I disagree.

Yes, tatty flags don't look great but this judgement that flying the flag is racist is insulting.

You don't see how a campaign organised by street thugs convicted of violence, possession of a firearm, banned from football and currently facing a murder charge might be intimidating?

That's just one of many photos of the litter our lot have left. They're too thick to even pick up after themselves and have a general tidy of the area. That's left to people like me and the council.

I would be interested to hear if people who oppose immigration so much actually know any immigrants personally? Much of my friendship group are immigrants or children of immigrants and my experience is that they want to come here for a better life, work hard and contribute to our society. Again, if people wish to fly flags on their own property, go ahead, but a lot of the flag flying on public land is to send a message of anti-immigration. I can ALWAYS tell if someone is right wing based on how they look at me and my children when we’re out.

Some were replaced by public art, others were stolen by wee hallions. You still see them every now and again. The one on the roundabout at the park is still there.☺️

Because, and I don't know how many times this has to be repeated, it's illegal to dangle stuff off lamposts over the road. If people want flags they have windows and most people have front and back gardens to pop a flag up.

Our racist flag raisers leave litter everywhere. And one was jailed after taking part in a violent protest.

I haven't reported any of it to either of my local councils as the city council are too fucking useless to do anything about anything and the county council love a flag, as mentioned earlier in the thread.

We do.

Churches, council buildings, royal places and other public buildings fly the flag. Pubs, shops and other commercial buildings fly flags and bunting. Some people have flag poles in their gardens on which they are free to fly what they like.

Crudely cable tying cheap flags to lampposts, however, is not only tacky and illegal, it's part of an organised campaign of intimidation organised by a carried out by violent racist things. Why would you be proud of that?

https://hopenothate.org.uk/2026/05/25/raise-the-colours-who-are-the-playground-bullies-plaguing-british-streets/

It’s a difficult one in my opinion. While I understand people flying English flags outside their own home (totally fine), I personally find it disrespectful when there are St George flags put all over public roads. A lot of the people who are putting these up (not all) are doing it to send a message that “England is for the English” and as the mother of a half African child whose father is an immigrant and who has a lot of friends who migrated here, I do find it offensive. But that’s just my opinion. I also know groups of people who take them down in diverse areas for that exact reason x

I mean if you claim part of another country and then wall to wall cover it in your flag you don’t think that’s done to be intimidating I don’t know what to tell you.

So, have you reported them to your local council? Or is it just England flags you have a problem with?

Yes, and it's all a fucking eyesore. It's illegal fly posting.

That's your interpretation. I don't see how that can be intimidating. Other countries proudly fly their flag without this overwrought handwringing - why can't we?!

But it's not just flags.

The organisers of the flag hanging have also been violent to people who were removing the flags:

https://hopenothate.org.uk/2026/05/25/raise-the-colours-who-are-the-playground-bullies-plaguing-british-streets/

Oxfordshire County Council had to get a court injunction to get them to stop.