A local council has spent over £11,500 removing some 750 St George’s and Union Jack Flags from its area. Residents have been left furious by the situation, labelling the council “treasonous” and blaming “wokery” for the removal of the flags.
The Medway towns of Kent were once home to Royal Navy Docks and a number of Army regiments. It is a patriotic area where flags have been going up in recent months as Operation Raise the Colours sweeps the country. Those responsible for the movement claim they are motivated by patriotism, while others argue the flags are provocative at a time when tensions are high over immigration. Some local councils, including Medway Council, have opted to take down flags, which has sparked fury among local communities.
As reported by the Daily Mail, those living in the area have accused Medway Council of wasting over £11,500 of taxpayers’ money. Chatham, one of the five towns which make up the area, is now completely devoid of flags.
Marshall Bowmaker, 61, from Chatham, said: “It’s disgusting. I think it’s treasonous. My grandfather fought in 1914. When war was declared, he and his brothers went and joined up on the first day. He was at The Somme, Ypres. How would he have felt?’
“He didn’t leave the army until he was 55 and then went to work at the Post Office and retired at 70 – and they’ve got the cheek to tear down the flag he fought for?”
Meanwhile, Samantha Phillips, a 50-year-old mother-of-five from Rainham, said it’s “100% woke”. She added: “I’m sure they’ve got better things to spend it on.”
In nearby Rochester, 67-year-old antiques shopkeeper Jim Field has accused the council of losing its way. He said: “Everyone should have the right to express their views. It’s not symbolism, it’s what we are.”
However, 45-year-old Marie Twiner and her daughter Courtney-Jade Cooper, 23, agree with the council’s move. They believe the flags cause “unnecessary violence”.
Marie explained: “My personal view is that it causes arguments and unnecessary violence. We can still be proud of who we are, but we don’t want to cause upset to other people.”
In September, Sir Keir Starmer said the UK “will not surrender its flag to those that wish to use it as a symbol of violence”. The Prime Minister said it represented “our diverse country” and that he would not allow people to feel “intimidated on our streets because of their background or the colour of their skin”.
