By Adam Morris
Councils across Scotland took down hundreds of flags from public property last year as social tensions around immigration and culture simmered over.
Research by 1919 reveals that at least 774 flags – almost all Saltires and Union Flags – were removed by local government officials in 2025/26.
That compares to just 13 in the previous year, exposing how the trend sweeping England and parts of Europe now also applies north of the border.
Local authorities confirmed they had experienced a steep rise in the issue, with the cost of removal nearing £25,000.
Those with the largest numbers corresponded to the parts of Scotland which have experienced high-profile immigration flashpoints.
Falkirk Council recorded the most removals with 217, spanning the same period when major far-right protests were held at the location of hotels housing asylum seekers.
The second highest flag removal count was in Edinburgh, where 168 cases were recorded.
In September last year, officials removed a number of banners from the Sighthill area after anti-immigration groups were accused of fixing them to lampposts on a busy thoroughfare into the city.
“It’s quite transparent what’s going on, and it’s obvious what people who put up these flags are trying to do”
Dr Niall Hamilton-Smith
“What we’re seeing in Scotland is a microcosm of what’s happening in England, spread by social media and political rhetoric,” said Dr Niall Hamilton-Smith, associate professor in criminology at Stirling University.
“Local groups in towns and cities are following a similar logic, and people appear to be more explicit in saying what they feel about immigration. They feel more emboldened.
“It’s quite transparent what’s going on, and it’s obvious what people who put up these flags are trying to do.
“There are different layers to it, from the far-right and what you might call people who like to indulge in ‘agro’ in other areas of their lives, all the way down to people who feel dispossessed of their local area, and want a way to express that.
“It’s not just a Scottish or even a British problem – it can be seen right across Europe.”
The statistics were obtained through freedom of information requests to all 32 councils in Scotland.
The true figure is likely to be far higher, as many local authorities refused to release the information, including Glasgow, Scotland’s largest.
Other areas with high instances of removal in 2025/26 include Dumfries and Galloway (165), Aberdeen (100) and North Ayrshire (77).
A further 36 cases were noted in Moray, while council staff in East Ayrshire were also called to remove 36 flags.
Analysis of the data has revealed Saltires and Lion Rampants outnumbered Union Flags by around five to one, while one Polish flag was also taken down.
“You used to see the Saltire used as an expression of support for independence, and now it’s being used in a very different way,” added Hamilton-Smith.
“It’s hard to deal with because the act of simply raising a national flag, even if we know what the intention is, is not criminal in itself, in the way that aggressively marching or waving abusive signs can be. It’s difficult for the police.”
The fixing of flags to public property also occurred in more rural parts of the country, with cases recorded in Orkney and Argyll and Bute, showing it is not simply an urban issue.
The figures were recorded up to the end of March 2026, meaning flags displayed in support of Scotland’s World Cup participation are unlikely to be part of the picture.
“The increase reflects a significant rise in the number of flags being put up without permission”
Falkirk Council
A spokesperson for Falkirk Council said illicit flags caused distractions for motorists, damaged public property, and could pose risks to pedestrians.
They said: “The increase reflects a significant rise in the number of flags being put up without permission.
“Any flag or other item attached to council street furniture requires prior permission, and we apply the same approach regardless of the type of flag involved.
“People are, of course, able to display flags on private property where they have the appropriate permissions.”
Edinburgh City Council said while there had been a spike last year, numbers began to fall from April onwards.
“Flags or other items which are attached to street lighting columns can present a road safety hazard if they become dislodged and blow onto the carriageway,” said transport and environment convener Cllr Stephen Jenkinson.
“As such we generally remove any which are put up without permission.”
Flags removed across Scotland by year
| Year | Number |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 10 |
| 2023/24 | 4 |
| 2024/25 | 13 |
| 2025/26 | 774 |
Top 5 councils for flag removals in 2025/26
| Year | Number |
|---|---|
| Falkirk | 217 |
| Edinburgh | 168 |
| Dumfries and Galloway | 165 |
| Aberdeen | 100 |
| North Ayrshire | 77 |
