Leader of Hertsmere Borough Council hits out at Operation Raise the Colours
Jeremy Newmark's linked the campaign to put flags on lampposts with extremists and criminals.
The Labour leader of Hertsmere Borough Council, Jeremy Newmark, has described Operation Raise the Colours as “an attempt by a bunch of criminals, extremists to hijack our national flag”.
Operation Raise the Colours is a movement to put up the St George’s flag and the Union flag on lampposts and other street furniture.
In his question before the council meeting, Cllr Brett Rosehill said that the movement “reflects public sentiment” and asked Cllr Newmark to “guarantee that these displays will not be removed in our borough”.
At the meeting, Cllr Rosehill said Cllr Newmark was “constantly linking our national flag to extremism”, and warned him it could “run the risk of letting extremists define it instead of reclaiming it for the mainstream”.
In response, Cllr Newmark said: “I’m sorry but I’m not playing.
“I won’t be taking lectures on our national flag and extremism from a councillor that has the audacity to speak in almost glowing terms in this question to the council about Operation Raise the Colours.
In response to an earlier written question from Cllr Rosehill, Cllr Newmark said he had “made it clear that Hertsmere will not remove flags from any street furniture under our control unless there is a clear and present risk to public safety”.
The upper tier authority with responsibility for highways, Liberal Democrat-run Hertfordshire County Council, has said that they will remove “unapproved items” when they are next in the relevant area.
Cllr Newmark said he “strongly supports the display of our national flags”, pointing to the Union flag flying at the council’s Civic Offices, the council-owned Elstree Film Studios, and along Shenley Road in Borehamwood, as well as the St George’s flag put up to mark the Lionesses’ success at Euro 2025 this summer.