An injunction from the High Court in England prevents activists from displaying the national flags of England and Britain on public infrastructure in Oxfordshire.
| PULSE POINTS |
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The High Court in England has approved an injunction preventing the flags of England and Britain from being displayed on public infrastructure in Oxfordshire. 📰 DETAIL: As a result of the injunction, four activists for Raise the Colours, a campaign to publicly display the St George’s Cross flag and the Union Flag, the flags of England and Britain, respectively, have agreed to cease their activities. The activists have also agreed to not obstruct any officials pulling the flags down, and not to encourage anyone else to put the flags up. Oxfordshire County Council argued that the flags were intimidating, posed safety risks, involved trespassing, and were unauthorized. “It’s unlawful behaviour, which has put people at risk and caused fear within our communities for almost a year,” Oxfordshire County Council leader Tim Bearder argued. The injunction was approved following a hearing on Tuesday. A further hearing will take place on July 9 for opposed to an additional inunction preventing anyone, not just the four activists, from putting up flags or obstructing their removal. 💬 KEY QUOTE: “We did not want to cause any distress to anybody, which has been stated… I feel it’s a sad day for the flag of our country and what it represents.” – Ryan Bridge, activist for Raise the Colours 🎯 IMPACT: The injunction could lead to penalties including imprisonment or fines for those who display the flags of England and Britain on English public highways in Oxfordshire. The injunction could pave the way for further restrictions on displaying the flags of England and Britain across the country. This development reflects the British authorities’ increasingly restrictive approach towards symbols and displays of national pride. 📺 FLASHBACK: Threats of legal action from Oxfordshire County Council, which is controlled by the Liberal Democrats, a liberal-left party that supports open borders and reversing the decision to leave the European Union (EU), were first reported in May. “The widespread installation of flags by Raise the Colours is not a sign of patriotism. It is an act of intimidation and division,” alleged Liz Leffman, then-Leader of Oxfordshire County Council. Earlier in June, the Council doubled down on its claim that the national flags of England and Britain were a cause of “distress” while applying for a High Court injunction. |
🚨 NEW: The Lib Dems have won a High Court injunction to stop England flags being put up on lampposts in Oxfordshire
The council said the flags were being used as "an act of intimidation and division" pic.twitter.com/ITgjp6kxqZ
— Politics UK (@PolitlcsUK) June 23, 2026
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