Campaigners removing lamppost flags in Basingstoke

Lower the Flags Basingstoke has launched on Facebook with the aim of taking down Union and St George’s flags across the town.

In an introductory post, the group said: "Basingstoke is a culturally diverse town, a welcoming one, a usually peaceful one, but since the flags started being cable-tied to lampposts, a division has been created and for many locals, this isn’t it.

"We don’t want hate, we don’t want racism, we don’t want a community divided and we don’t want people to feel unsafe in their home town."

(Image: Newsquest)

The background to the dispute is a wider campaign which began appearing in towns from August 2025 by Operation Raise the Colours, with supporters presenting the flags as a patriotic symbol of unity and critics saying they are being used to intimidate migrant communities and asylum seekers.

In Basingstoke, the group taking responsibility for erecting the flags is Stand Up Basingstoke, which has said the displays represent patriotism, but its private Facebook page has been linked to extreme far-right material, including posts about tracking down illegal immigrants.

READ MORE: 'We put up the flags in Basingstoke and if you're offended it's not our problem'

A document containing screenshots from its closed Facebook group, including alleged xenophobic, racist, and Islamophobic posts, has been sent to police, Basingstoke MP Luke Murphy, and local councillors.

Lower the Flags pointed out that it is illegal to fly flags from lampposts under the Highway Act 1980 and added: "If you want to fly one in your garden, by all means, go for it, but when it comes to council/highways property in public areas, that’s a big no-no and Lower the Flags Basingstoke are here to remove them.

"We aren’t anti-flag, we are quite simply anti-racism and anti-hate… Let’s keep Basingstoke full of peace and kindness."

The group posted that its current record is removing 120 flags in one night.

They said: "If you’ve got any near you that you’d like removed just let us know and we’ll add them to our list."

Hampshire Constabulary confirmed that it has received a document which contains screenshots from a closed Facebook group.

It said: "The document has been reviewed. There are no current active investigations."

Regarding the erection of flags across the town, it said: "Any that have been attached or flown from structures that are publicly owned will be referred to the local authority for them to assess and respond appropriately, unless there are any associated criminal offences."

Hampshire County Council previously said: "We would continue to encourage members of the public to consider the safety of themselves and other highways users when placing unauthorised items on property owned or maintained by the county council, particularly in the case of streetlights.

"Our position remains that items already placed will be considered for removal as part of our routine highway maintenance activity.

"Anything that is placed that poses a risk to the safe operation of the public highway, will be prioritised for immediate removal."

A petition calling on the county council to remove the flags has 2,456 signatures.

Mr Murphy did not respond to a request for a comment.