Council orders patriotic Briton to stop flying 'offensive and intimidating' Union Jack
A London resident has been ordered to take down a Union flag displayed on his balcony after a neighbour complained that it was "intimidating".
David Gilley, 31, received a letter from a housing officer at the Labour-controlled Southwark Council warning he could be in breach of his tenancy agreement if he failed to remove the flag.
The letter arrived just days before St George's Day celebrations.
Mr Gilley told The Sun on Sunday: "I got a letter from the council saying someone had complained that the flag was intimidating."
The London resident remains defiant, insisting he will not comply with the council's demand.
He said: "But I am not taking the flag down. It is crazy.
"It was St George's Day it is just disrespectful."
Mr Gilley maintains the flag, positioned on his own balcony, causes no harm to anyone.
The correspondence left him anxious about his housing situation, with references to his tenancy contract raising fears that he could face eviction over it.
Despite the warning, he intends to display additional flags when the World Cup begins next month.
He noted that the majority of his neighbours have raised no objections to his patriotic display.
Liberal Democrat councillor Victor Chamberlain condemned the authority's handling of the situation.
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"How absurd!" he wrote on Twitter, criticising the decision.
The councillor added: "We celebrate Southwark's diversity.
"The Union Flag is for everyone & people should be free to be patriotic."
Southwark council admitted they were wrong and apologised for the error, according to The Sun.
A spokesman said: "We support the freedom of residents who wish to display the Union flag.
"The Kirby Estate in Bermondsey for example is well-known for its Union and St George’s flags.
"This letter was not authorised and doesn’t reflect our position.
"We’ve reviewed the matter, apologised to our tenant and confirmed he does not need to remove the flag."
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