Only in modern Britain could the simple act of raising our national flag, the red and white of St George, the proud Union Jack, be branded “far right.”
Yes, you read that right. In my hometown of Redditch, a father-and-son team (both servicemen, one retired, one currently serving in the Royal Navy) spent their leave not down the pub or on a beach, but up ladders on suburban streets, attaching 90 flags to lampposts.
All at their own expense. All in the name of pride, unity, and community spirit.
The reaction? Explosive, in the best way. The interview I did with them for the local newspaper, the Redditch Standard quickly drew over 800 likes and nearly 300 comments, with people from every walk of life saying the same thing: Well done. We love it. Keep the flags flying.
“Love it, well done both,” wrote Oliver.
“Brilliant love this, put the GREAT back in Britain,” cheered Spike.
“Doing a great job — keep it coming,” said Susan.
On and on it went. Ordinary people thrilled to see the town awash with colour.
But amid the chorus of support came a sour note… not from a fringe activist or a faceless Facebook lurker, but from none other than the Leader of Redditch Borough Council, Labour’s Cllr Sharon Harvey.
Her contribution? To sneer:
“Is the Standard encouraging the far right Operation Raise the Colours? This is organised by Britain First and Tommy Robinson.”
Is she, Shaz Ronnie Harvey, having a laugh?
Here we have a council leader, elected by the slimmest of margins after the Tory and Reform vote was split in Redditch, equating proud local residents, including a serving sailor of Her Majesty’s Navy, with extremists.
When challenged, she doubled down in an email, insisting the flag initiative was “backed by Britain First and Tommy Robinson,” that the article was “unbalanced,” and even that it “encouraged unlawful behaviour.”
Unlawful behaviour? Since when did flying the national flag in your own country become against the law?
And “unbalanced”? Excuse me… it was an interview. Residents speaking in their own words about something they created and paid for themselves. If that’s unbalanced, then every vox-pop on every news outlet is too.
But the real kicker? She claims she’s speaking “in a personal capacity.” Yet she used her official council email to email me about it and signed off as Cllr Sharon Harvey.
FYI Councillor, you can’t wrap yourself in the robes of office when it suits you, then suddenly say you’re off-duty when the heat’s on.
The truth is this: our council leader smeared her own constituents. Ordinary, law-abiding, patriotic people who wanted nothing more than to brighten their streets and show pride in their country. She called them “far right.” How dare she.
And here’s the real problem. This is not just about one councillor in Redditch, it’s symptomatic of the joyless left running far too many of our councils. To them, the Union Jack is not a banner of unity, sacrifice, and freedom, but something to be viewed with suspicion, even shame. They confuse patriotism with extremism, and then scratch their heads when communities feel alienated.
These are the very people writing the policies, spending our money, and, in Cllr Harvey’s case, even teaching our children. What lessons are being passed down to the next generation if raising the national flag is treated as dangerous?
However, they underestimate us. We stand on the shoulders of giants. Many of us have family who gave their lives for our flag… and we will never stop honouring them, or standing up for our country.
It’s time to say enough. Our councils should be led by people who LOVE this nation, not those who sneer at it. By people who celebrate community spirit, not stigmatise it. By people who stand with ordinary residents, not against them.
Because here’s the thing: it isn’t the flags that divide us. It’s attitudes like Cllr Harvey’s. And the British public can see it. Just look at the hundreds of messages of support in Redditch. People are proud. People are united. And people are tired of being told that loving their country makes them extremists.
So here’s my message to the council leader and anyone else tempted to sneer at the Union Jack: read the room. The flags are flying, the people are smiling, and Britain is waking up.
Maybe it’s time the people of Redditch asked themselves: is this really the leadership we need?
By Claire Bullivant
