Council seeks injunction to ban Birmingham flag campaigns

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 2 Nov, 15:31 · Archive

Birmingham City Council is seeking an interim injunction to ban flag-raising activities in the city.

Birmingham City Council has applied for an interim injunction to ban flag-raising activities in the city. The case is being heard in court with defendants opposing the bid on various grounds.

Ryan Bridge is the only one of the originally named defendants continuing to oppose the injunction. Six other defendants have either made legal undertakings not to take further part in flagging activities, severed links with the flagging group, or not taken part in proceedings. The council has also named 'persons unknown' as a catch-all defendant to prevent others from engaging in the activity and to prohibit all flags and attachments going up without consent.

Bridge opposes the injunction on the basis that it would breach his right to freedom of expression and his right to protest, according to the Express & Star and Birmingham World. Five men have also stepped forward as 'persons unknown' to oppose the injunction. They are Adam Biggs, Thomas Greenslade and Timothy Hodge, all of Ladywood, Mark Hudson of Kings Heath, and Tony Kaye of Balsall Heath.

These five men say they do not condone or support the flagging group's activities or intimidating behaviour. However, they argue the injunction is 'draconian' and 'disproportionate' and would impinge on the rights of any campaigns using flags and posters to express their views. They are concerned it would affect legitimate activities, including those by LGBTQ activists. The five were present in court to present their opposition to the injunction.

How it is being reported

• Birmingham flag injunction would have ‘chilling effect’ on rights, court toldRyan Bridge opposes the injunction on the basis it would breach his right to freedom of expression and his right to protest.Express & Star · 2 Nov, 15:12
• Birmingham flag injunction would have ‘chilling effect’ on rights, court toldRyan Bridge opposes the injunction on the basis it would breach his right to freedom of expression and his right to protest.Birmingham World · 2 Nov, 15:12
• Birmingham flags injunction bid live as council seeks banRyan Bridge and Raise the Colours are in court in Birmingham today to oppose a proposed interim injunction application by Birmingham City CouncilBirminghamLive · 2 Nov, 11:14

In this story: Birmingham City Council · Ryan Bridge · Raise the Colours · Birmingham

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