Barnet Council rejects call to remove Temple Fortune Union flags

Barnet Council has dismissed calls to remove Union Jack flags from lamp posts in Temple Fortune, despite Labour MP Sarah Sackman describing them as 'divisive' and 'intimidating'. A council spokesperson told the Barnet Post that flags would only be taken down if they posed a safety risk, and even then, only during routine maintenance to avoid extra costs.

Sackman, the MP for Finchley and Golders Green, wrote to the council last week after residents complained about the flags. She said some had found them 'unsettling, intimidating and othering'. In a statement published by the Barnet Post, she argued that no one in the borough should feel unwelcome in a 'diverse and inclusive' community.

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Council policy: safety first, cost second

The council’s response made clear that its priority was safety, not politics. Lamp posts, a spokesperson said, are not designed to hold flags securely. Removing them would require additional work, diverting resources from other services. The council already flies Union flags at its offices in Colindale and Hendon Town Hall, but avoids doing so on street furniture.

A follow-up question from the Barnet Post, asking whether the council would remove the Temple Fortune flags, went unanswered. The spokesperson had previously stated that removals would only happen if flags interfered with road markings or posed a hazard, particularly for visually impaired residents.

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Conservatives accuse Sackman of 'political theatre'

Barnet Conservatives seized on the issue, framing it as a distraction from Labour’s funding cuts. Opposition leader Peter Zinkin, a councillor for Golders Green, accused Sackman of hypocrisy. He said her government was redirecting money away from Barnet and London to shore up support in areas threatened by Reform UK.

Residents in Temple Fortune and Golders Green deserve better than political theatre from an MP whose government is making this council’s finances worse.

Peter Zinkin, Barnet Conservative leader

Zinkin told the Barnet Post that Sackman’s demand was at odds with the council’s own stance. The council, which Labour controls, had already decided that removing flags was not a priority. He questioned why Sackman was pushing for spending that would achieve little, given that flags could reappear the next day.

No resolution in sight

The dispute shows no sign of ending. Sackman’s office has not responded to requests for comment on the council’s refusal. Meanwhile, the flags remain in place, with no indication that the council will act unless forced to by safety concerns.

For now, the issue remains a local flashpoint, with residents divided and politicians trading accusations. The council’s position leaves little room for compromise. It will only remove flags if they become a hazard, and even then, only when it aligns with existing maintenance schedules.