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St George’s flags have been taken down and replaced by signs with three-word messages in an English city. Placards stating “we are welcoming” and “we are kind” now adorn lamp posts in Nottingham. The flags were removed from Mansfield Road and Forest Road East on Tuesday after being attached around a week ago, it is believed, and replaced by six handmade signs. Nottingham City Council said that it would not interfere with the new placards.

“Our position is that much like we haven’t removed the flags, we will not be removing these signs,” a spokesperson said. It comes after Goosey the Goose Fair Goose – the mascot of Nottingham’s much-loved annual event – was vandalised with a St George’s Cross last month. The police issued an appeal after the incident. The East Midlands city has seen relatively fewer flags put up by residents compared to other parts of the country, it has been reported.

Our sister site, Nottinghamshire Live, noted that they have, however, been spotted a lot on Reform UK MP Lee Anderson’s patch – Sutton-in-Ashfield.

Sir Keir Starmer told the BBC in September that his family has “got St George’s flag in our flat” in Downing Street.

He added: “I’m very encouraging of flags. I think they’re patriotic and I think they’re a great symbol of our nation.

“I don’t think they should be devalued and belittled. I think sometimes when they’re used purely for divisive purposes, actually it devalues the flag.

“I don’t want to see that. I’m proud of our flag.”

Flags have been taken down in Tower Hamlets in east London and Birmingham as Brits take part in “Operation Raise the Colours”.

Amid the controversy, the Prime Minister’s official spokesperson said that Starmer has “always talked about his pride of being British, the patriotism he feels”.

They added: “I think he’s talked about that previously […] not least recently in relation to the Lionesses’ successful campaign in the Euros.

“Patriotism will always be an important thing to him.”

When asked if he is supportive of people hoisting English flags, the spokesman said: “Absolutely, patriotism, putting up English flags.

“We put up English flags all around Downing Street every time the English football team – women’s and men’s – are out trying to win games for us.”

But Starmer has said that the country’s flags are devalued when flown “purely for divisive purposes”.