Councillor defends bids to take down flags

CRITICISM OF GREEN REPRESENTATIVE'S CLAIM SOME FEEL TARGETED AND SCARED BY NATIONAL FLAGS

- By EDWARD BARNES

ATTEMPTS to take national flags down in one area of Merseyside have been defended by a politician who said they had left people "feeling targeted, confused and scared.

Cllr Jo Bird, Green councillor for Bromborough, has come under fire from Wirral Council's Conservatives for "virtue signalling" as well as the borough's Reform UK branch.

This was after Cllr Bird put a post out with fellow councillor Kieran Murphy criticising flags posted on the Rake, a road through her ward.

Across the country, people have been encouraged to put up flags as part of a grassroots campaign, though concerns have been raised around reported links to some far-right groups. There has been no formal campaign in Wirral but flags have been spotted in various places.