They said they would continue their campaign in South Gloucestershire despite receiving ‘horrendous threats’
Protesters have demanded that Union Jack and St George flags on lamp posts across South Gloucestershire stay up and stop getting taken down. Around 30 people gathered outside council offices in Yate today, waving giant flags and getting honks of support from drivers passing by.
In recent weeks flags have been put up across the country on lamp posts and many can be seen in places like the Bristol Road in Frampton Cotterell. According to South Gloucestershire Council the “unauthorised display of flags” is causing concern among many residents in the area.
The protest was organised by Bristol Patriots, with a poster saying “leave our national flags alone”, “stop the hate” and “stand up to racism”. They played music from bands like the Clash, Madness, and songs with lyrics such as “Keir Starmer is a w***er and we want our country back”.
One protester, who lives in Chipping Sodbury but asked not to be named, said: “It’s not a case of a movement being racist against migrants or anything like that. It’s our national flag. All the migrants who come here and settle in this country and our culture, this flag represents them too. But for years they’ve drummed it into us to say ‘you can’t fly your flag’.
“It’s a nationwide thing to stand up against this tyrannical government. They come down on us like a dictatorship. I donated 30 flags for Chipping Sodbury. I thought what a better way for when we have the Remembrance Sunday parade, for our soldiers who lost their lives. The council said ‘no, you can’t have that, it’s racist’. We’re not thugs trying to cause racial tension.
“This flag symbolises all the people who shed blood and gave their lives for our freedom. That goes back many, many years. This is my identity and who I am. Our country gave far more good to the world than what we did bad. We abolished slavery. I’m sick and tired of being told we have to apologise for our nation. We’re a great country, one of the best in the world.”
Bristol Patriots protest outside South Gloucestershire Council buildings in Yate, Tuesday 14 October (Image: PAUL GILLIS / Reach PLC)
English and British flags are often divisive, with some people saying the recent push to put up flags makes people with an immigration background feel unwelcome and uncomfortable. But the protesters in Yate denied they were racist, and said instead they were criticising poorly funded public services.
Some of the protesters were asking where the flags that are taken down end up. Some flags were paid for with a fundraiser at a local pub. A council spokesperson said people can collect flags with “proof of ownership” from their local police station. The most recently removed batch are at Chipping Sodbury police station, according to the council.
Sue Mills, another protester who lives in Yate, said: “They stopped my heating allowance last year and yet they put illegals up in hotels, feed them, clothe them, and keep them warm. They keep giving our money away to other countries, when we need it. The hospices need it, and veterans need it. We’ve got veterans on the streets. Illegals shouldn’t come before.
“The flag means I’m celebrating my country. It’s nothing to do with racism at all. It seems like we can celebrate everybody else’s flags, but not our own, which ain’t right. My mum and dad were in the army. If they were alive now, it wouldn’t bear thinking about. Where I live there’s a Welsh flag, and nobody takes that down. If it were an English flag, the council would take it down.”
The Bristol Patriots group was set up earlier this year, as an offshoot of the Great British National Strike. The group recently organised a protest in Bristol too, which attracted hundreds of counter-protesters concerned about the rising anti-immigration sentiment.
That protest proved far more rowdy, with police officers struggling to keep both groups apart. Counter-protesters accused the group of being far-right, racist and “Nazi scum”. However there were no counter-protesters in Yate, on the edge of town.
One Bristol Patriots organiser, who asked not to be named, said: “We’re trying to make people aware of this fake narrative of racism being pushed on us, driven by the left wing. We’re not racist, we’re out with many nationalities when we’re hanging flags. We’re annoyed with the hate towards us driven by the MPs, councils and Labour Party. We see the media twisting things.
“Immigration is absolutely fine. Our problem is with illegals coming over. Illegal immigration is the issue. We’ve got so many people in this country struggling as it is. Why aren’t we supporting British people first? We’re all for supporting people from war-torn countries, people that need help, there’s no issue with that. But there’s veterans leaving the army with no support at all.
“Britain is built on immigration and we need asylum seekers here, but it has to be done in the right way. Having our borders open for everyone is just dangerous. We’ve got the Kingswood lads here, the Patchway lads, all the lads working hard getting the flags up are all down here. We’ve been doing it for the community. But the threats we’ve been getting are horrendous.”
The majority of drivers passing the protest honked in support, perhaps due to the banners on the roundabout suggesting that “Keir Starmer is a w***er, beep if you agree”. A couple of drivers shouted through their windows, with one woman saying “I think you’re disgusting”. There were only around four police officers present at the protest, who appeared to have little to do.
What does the council say?
Last month a statement was issued by Maggie Tyrrell, the Liberal Democrat leader of the council, and Ian Boulton, the Labour co-leader of the council, regarding the proliferating number of flags in South Gloucestershire. They said the flags could cause a hazard for road users.
Their statement confirmed that “to protect public safety and support community cohesion, we will be removing unauthorised flags and graffiti from public spaces”. They said this was not to discourage pride, but to ensure public spaces remain safe, welcoming, and respectful for all.
South Gloucestershire Council’s statement on flags
“We recognise that national flags can bring vibrancy, pride and a sense of unity to our communities — especially during major events and periods of national celebration. The Union Flag and the St George’s Cross are symbols that belong to everyone. However, their placement in unauthorised locations and recent campaigns and behaviours linked to the unauthorised display of flags have caused genuine concern among many residents.
“While most people display flags respectfully, we have received reports that a small number of individuals have used them in ways that feel intimidating or divisive. This behaviour is not representative of the values we share in South Gloucestershire; we believe that everyone deserves to feel safe, respected, and included in their community.
“In addition, as we enter autumn and approach the time of year when clocks go back, weather conditions such as high winds pose a greater risk of damage to flags and the structures they are attached to. Flags on lamp posts and other infrastructure can become loose or torn, creating hazards for road users and pedestrians. Additionally, they can obscure essential street lighting, CCTV and road signage, compromising visibility and public safety.
“To protect public safety and support community cohesion, we will be removing unauthorised flags and graffiti from public spaces. This action is not about discouraging pride or celebration, but about ensuring that our shared spaces remain safe, welcoming, and respectful for all. As a council, we are proud of our values that we care about all our residents and communities and work together in respectful and inclusive ways.
“We remain committed to creating a strong, safe, inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone. We want every resident to feel part of a community that values respect, safety, and cohesion – this is vital in improving social and economic prosperity for all residents, businesses and the district as a whole. Thank you for your understanding and support as we work to maintain public spaces that reflect the values of South Gloucestershire.”