The campaign has seen St George’s Cross flags tied to lampposts and painted on roundabouts across England over the summer, while more recently Saltires have appeared on street furniture in Scotland, including in Glasgow and Falkirk alongside Edinburgh.

Supporters of the movement claim it promotes unity and patriotism, however many have dismissed the displays as an attempt to send an unwelcome message to immigrants and ethnic minorities at a time when tensions are already heightened.

Last month council officials said in an internal communication arrangements were being made to ensure all flags in place on Calder Road were “removed as a priority”. 

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However, more than two weeks on, they remain cable tied to lampposts along the dual carriageway which runs west out of the city.

The Herald contacted Edinburgh Council for an update on the removals but did not receive a response.

Ross McKenzie, an independent councillor for the local area, said: “I’m concerned that the council’s inaction is emboldening other anti-migrant activity.”

He said this included “deport Muslims” being spray-painted  on the entrance to an underpass on Calder Road.

Cllr McKenzie said: “I reported the graffiti to the council and it’s now been removed.”

Expressing frustration at the council’s failure to take the flags down, he said: “Senior officers are paid huge sums of money to find solutions to problems like this and it’s been over a month now and they haven’t solved it.

“The council has a policy of not allowing stuff to be hung from council property. It was a nightmare for Hearts to get the permission to do the Maroon Mile display. The council just needs to enforce its own policy, it shouldn’t require that kind of political pressure.”

When members of Stand Up to Racism Edinburgh attempted to remove the flags last weekend, they said a man confronted them, threatening: ‘I’m going to slit your throat.’

Cllr McKenzie added: “I didn’t want to publicly take this on because I was concerned about giving oxygen to the anti-migrant campaign. I really didn’t want to do that.

“But the council’s inaction followed by the threats that were made to Stand Up To Racism and the presence of racist graffiti, I felt I couldn’t continue being quiet about it.

“You can see that the council’s failure to act is emboldening people.”

Police Scotland confirmed it received a report of a man threatened by another man in the Calder Road area of Edinburgh at around 10.30am on Sunday, 5 October, 2025. A spokesperson said enquiries are ongoing.

Recounting the incident, Donny Gluckstein of Stand Up to Racism Edinburgh told The Herald: “We thought we would save the council’s rate payers some money and actually take them down ourselves.

“Somebody came out from very nearby absolutely raging. He said: ‘I’m going to slit your throat, I’m going to stab you, you are woke lefties, I am a patriot’. It was just shouting and screaming. We didn’t want a confrontation because that’s not what we do, so we just turned and walked away.”

He said given their experience anyone who is sent to remove the flags should be accompanied by the police or security guards.

“I know how resources are short, but this needs to be made a priority.

“Not only because a lot of people find it intimidating and object to it happening, but also it’s a safety issue because it’s a busy road, they’re loosely attached, they can easily fall off onto somebody’s bonnet and you can’t see where you’re going; it’s not right, they shouldn’t be on roads like that,” Mr Gluckstein added.

Councillor Cathy Fullerton, SNP councillor for Sighthill/Gorgie, said: “The vast majority of my constituents just want a decent standard of life and reliable public services, wherever they were born and whatever their background or faith.

“They want nothing at all to do with the bigots who are trying to turn our flags into symbols of hatred and intimidation against vulnerable members of our community.

“The Council needs to step up and deal with this straight away.”

It is understood there are safety concerns for council staff or contractors tasked with removing the flags, following several incidents, including a worker who was verbally abused and had his cherry picker damaged while attempting to take down Saltire flags from lampposts in Stenhousemuir earlier this month.

Cllr McKenzie said it was the council’s duty to “find a way so that people can do this safely”.

Scott Arthur, Labour MP and Edinburgh South West, said: “It’s a difficult issue, but ultimately Edinburgh is an inclusive city and some people think those flags don’t reflect our values as a nation.

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“Different people think the message being sent is different, but for me it’s the flags we’ve seen down south and that message.

“We’re an inclusive place and I think it pains me some people, when they look at these flags, they think that goes against our values. And I think as a country we’ve got a duty to protect our values as a nation and inclusivity is a big part of that. 

“What I would say though is the council has a legal responsibility to take them down because they are against the law, is my understanding.

“If people want to fly a flag in their own garden or house they’re absolutely welcome to do that. But I think having them on lampposts on the main thoroughfare into Edinburgh – I’ve lived in Edinburgh since 1996 and I’ve never seen that ever.

“It’s just not part of the culture of the city and I don’t think it’s part of Scotland’s culture to have these flags displayed in that way either.”