16/05/2026
Statement by our Stirchley and Bournville & Cotteridge councillors on “Raise the Colours”
We are very troubled by violent incidents that took place in Stirchley last night (Thursday 14th May) in which one Stirchley resident was allegedly attacked and hospitalised and another was apparently punched in the face. This happened following actions by the group ‘Raise the Colours’ to attach flags to lampposts on Pershore Road. Lampposts are Birmingham City Council property and should not have flags, or anything else, attached to them without prior permission and local consultation.
Raise the Colours is a group with a history of intimidation and violence and we do not recognise them as part of our communities. We do not want them bullying and dividing residents and damaging the strong social cohesion we have in our wards and across Birmingham.
This group has been banned from agitating in Calais in France and banned from putting up their flags in Oxford. They should not be free to put up flags on council property in Birmingham.
We reject their claim that patriotism can only be shown by flying the Union flag or the St George flag. The people of Birmingham were patriotic before the flags, have been patriotic during the raising of the flags and will be patriotic after the flags have gone. Patriotism can be demonstrated in many ways, including building social cohesion in our communities and encouraging us all to respect and value our neighbours.
We understand that the police did not arrive on the scene until late and we will be seeking a meeting with them to understand why this happened. As Councillors, we will also be raising this in the Council to find a way to protect our communities and residents, who expressed their fear to us about these activities on the doorsteps during the election. The next administration needs to respond much more robustly to these incidents.
Our message to those that see no harm in forcing the flying of flags in our areas, is that while we can all have different views on this matter, bullying residents and committing violent acts will not be accepted.
Councillor Kamel Hawwash, Stirchley
Councillor Roxanne Green, Bournville and Cotteridge
We are very troubled by violent incidents that took place in Stirchley last night (Thursday 14th May) in which one Stirchley resident was allegedly attacked and hospitalised and another was apparently punched in the face. This happened following actions by the group ‘Raise the Colours’ to attach...
