A far-right group is using flag-raising to spark viral confrontations across English suburbs
In short: Raise the Colours, a group founded by two Birmingham businessmen, has gained notoriety for attaching flags to lampposts without permission. While the group claims to be a patriotic grassroots movement, critics and local residents report intimidation, aggressive behaviour, and the targeting of non-white communities, sparking widespread community resistance and legal action.
Raise the Colours rose to prominence in autumn 2025, led by co-founders Ryan Bridge and Elliott Stanley. The group’s primary tactic involves mounting Union and England flags on public infrastructure without authorisation. While Bridge and Stanley have publicly denied that their activities are politically motivated or racist, the group has been widely classified as a far-right, anti-migrant organisation. Their operations have expanded from Birmingham and Worcestershire into southern England, often triggering confrontations with residents who view the flags as symbols of intimidation.
The group’s strategy relies heavily on social media virality. Members frequently film themselves engaging with locals, posting videos that frame their actions as patriotic while labelling dissenters as left-wing agitators. In Stirchley, a Birmingham suburb, the group repeatedly replaced flags removed by residents, leading to intense standoffs. These incidents often attract online attention, which critics describe as rage-bait designed to boost the group's digital profile. Local businesses that objected to the flags have reported being targeted by negative reviews and, in some cases, physical vandalism.
Legal and social pushback has intensified throughout 2026. Ryan Bridge has faced multiple arrests and charges, including racially aggravated harassment and assault. In June 2026, Oxfordshire County Council secured a High Court injunction to stop the group from attaching flags to lampposts, and Birmingham City Council has pursued similar measures. Despite these challenges, the group remains active, and Bridge has sought to align his campaign with mainstream political platforms, even attending a Reform UK conference in September 2026 to propose a legal framework for his flagging activities.
The impact of these actions has prompted creative community responses. In Stourbridge, an Arts Council-funded project used student-designed flags to celebrate local identity, while a Birmingham textile artist created a new flag from discarded, ripped materials removed from lampposts. These projects aim to reclaim public spaces from the division caused by the group’s unauthorised activities, highlighting the deep tension between the group’s self-described patriotism and the inclusive values held by many local residents.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Raise the Colours (organisation)
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