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  "path": "/news/london-news-council-patriotic-briton-union-jack",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-03T08:08:15.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Prime Minister's niece selected as Labour candidate after being 'parachuted into safe seat'",
    "London marathon breaks own fundraising world record as donations top £87.5m",
    "Driver who killed two schoolgirls in Wimbledon crash charged as original decision reversed",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nA London resident has been ordered to take down a Union flag displayed on his balcony after a neighbour complained that it was \"intimidating\".\n\nDavid 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.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe letter arrived just days before St George's Day celebrations.\n\nMr Gilley told The Sun on Sunday: \"I got a letter from the council saying someone had complained that the flag was intimidating.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe London resident remains defiant, insisting he will not comply with the council's demand.\n\nHe said: \"But I am not taking the flag down. It is crazy.\n\n\"It was St George's Day it is just disrespectful.\"\n\nMr Gilley maintains the flag, positioned on his own balcony, causes no harm to anyone.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe correspondence left him anxious about his housing situation, with references to his tenancy contract raising fears that he could face eviction over it.\n\nDespite the warning, he intends to display additional flags when the World Cup begins next month.\n\nHe noted that the majority of his neighbours have raised no objections to his patriotic display.\n\nLiberal Democrat councillor Victor Chamberlain condemned the authority's handling of the situation.\n\n### LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:\n\n\n\n\n  * Prime Minister's niece selected as Labour candidate after being 'parachuted into safe seat'\n  * London marathon breaks own fundraising world record as donations top £87.5m\n  * Driver who killed two schoolgirls in Wimbledon crash charged as original decision reversed\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\"How absurd!\" he wrote on Twitter, criticising the decision.\n\nThe councillor added: \"We celebrate Southwark's diversity.\n\n\"The Union Flag is for everyone & people should be free to be patriotic.\"\n\nSouthwark council admitted they were wrong and apologised for the error, according to The Sun.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nA spokesman said: \"We support the freedom of residents who wish to display the Union flag.\n\n\"The Kirby Estate in Bermondsey for example is well-known for its Union and St George’s flags.\n\n\"This letter was not authorised and doesn’t reflect our position.\n\n\"We’ve reviewed the matter, apologised to our tenant and confirmed he does not need to remove the flag.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**\n**\n\n**\n**\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Council orders patriotic Briton to stop flying 'offensive and intimidating' Union Jack"
}