Fury after Labour council removes 36 St George's flags 'that made people feel unsafe'

Nineteen Union flags have been taken down by a Labour-held London Council, after complaints from members of the public. Critics have branded the move "spineless", following a freedom of information request which revealed that the Royal Borough of Greenwich removed 19 Union flags and 36 St George's Cross flags across the borough.

Officials also confirmed that there had been 14 incidents of vandalised road markings being "cleared or painted over". In its response, the Labour-run council said the removals were "carried out in response to complaints and safety concerns", but did not elaborate on the nature of those concerns or who had raised them. The decision has provoked anger from senior London politicians, who said it symbolised a growing tendency to "kowtowing to perceived 'sensibilities'."

Susan Hall, the leader of the London Conservatives said that the flag was "a symbol of national pride and one which flies above all of us, regardless of identity."

She added that "some people would complain about seeing their flag, and demand it be taken down" saying that she found such moves "enraging".

The removals come amid growing rows across the UK over the flying of the Union Jack and St George's Cross, with some councils facing accusations of being "ashamed" of Britain's national symbols.

Recently, similar controversies have erupted in Birmingham, Romford and Tower Hamlets, where local authorities have restricted the display of flags on civic buildings following public complaints or claims of "offence".

Greenwich Borough was granted Royal Borough status in 2012, in part due to its historic links to the British Royal Family.

A Royal Borough of Greenwich spokesperson said:"Our country's flag represents our diverse United Kingdom. We understand that for many people our Union flag and our St George's Cross represent unity, pride and patriotism.

"We are a proud council too and fly the Union flag every day outside our Town Hall. We celebrate St George's Day with the St George's Cross and fly our flags to cheer on our teams in international tournaments. Our country's flags should be flown with respect.

"We are also proud to be a Borough of Sanctuary, a borough where people feel they belong and are safe; refugees who have integrated well into our community.

"There is a perception of an association between the far-right and the St George's Cross and some people have reported feeling intimidated and unsafe. As a council, we have a duty of care to help ensure the safety of our residents, staff and local businesses.

"To us, these flags represent British values, including equality, inclusivity, and diversity.

"Attaching flags on public property without permission can be dangerous and/or illegal. We will act on complaints from our residents, staff and local businesses. Where there is a danger to public safety these items will be removed, and the Council will remove any graffiti as part of our regular maintenance schedule. Anything considered offensive or reported as a hate crime, or found on our historic buildings, or causing a safety hazard will be removed as soon as possible. We ask residents to respect our staff whilst they carry out their duties, as we have a zero tolerance to abuse.

"This is about keeping our streets safe and ensuring public assets are protected for everyone.

"Our Union flag represents unity - not division - and we are determined to keep it that way.

"Lastly, just a thanks to our environmental champions who help to keep our borough clean and tidy maintaining our civic pride."