St George’s Cross painted on zebra crossings in York

LocalPolitics
5 Sep 2025 • 8:09 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • St George's Cross flags have been displayed on lampposts and painted on zebra crossings and a mini roundabout in York.
  • The widespread flying of Union and St George's Cross flags, linked to an online campaign called Operation Raise the Colours, has become contentious, with some local authorities removing them.
  • Politicians hold differing views, with some decrying the flags' removal and others associating the increase with xenophobia or racism, while Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer views them as patriotic symbols.
  • City of York Council, a Labour-run authority, has confirmed it will not remove the flags but has raised safety concerns about their installation on lampposts without appropriate approvals.
  • Watch the video in full above.

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