Council leader gives his verdict on flags displays

CALL TO KEEP NATIONAL EMBLEMS A SIGN OF UNITY

- JANE HAYNES Politics Editor

THE leader of Birmingham City Council has spoken out over the sudden emergence of Union and St George’s Cross flags in city neighbourhoods.

John Cotton praised the ‘patriotism; but urged people to ‘desist’ from putting up any more flags and painting roundabouts.

And he also warned it was vital the national flags were not sullied by racist extremists, saying: “I'm not going to have our flags taken away from us by people who just want to tear us apart.

“I want to be absolutely clear. I do not have any problem with people displaying their patriotism.