There are claims a scheme by Rotherham Council offering £500 grants to community groups who want to fly Union and St George’s flags may be counterproductive and amplify right-wing rooted intimidation.
Some residents believe their mission might inadvertently bolster far-right sentiment and deepen divisions in a place already experiencing racial tensions and flag-related controversies.
Conservative Constituency Officer for Rotherham Ben Nuttall said: “I don’t think it is going to work the way they think it will.
“They’re taking the flag back from the right wing extremists.
“It is an admirable thing to do to keep people safe but I think it is the wrong way to do it.”
Specifically, community groups and parish councils will have costs of erecting flag poles flying either a union or St George’s flag covered by Rotherham Council.
“Its such a shame union jacks are now associated with hate coming from right wing parties,” said Sheffield resident Graham Tomaras, 51, who has lived in the city for nearly quarter of a century.
He added: “I think persistence is probably key.
“People need to keep flying the union jacks to regain power in pride and not adversity.”
Another Sheffield resident, Hannah Bullard, 47, said: “What Rotherham are doing will only make people more scared.
“If I saw the English flag up I’d immediately think it meant whoever lived or worked at that property would be some extreme conservative.”
In 2024 Rotherham saw a major outbreak of racially aggravated unrest with protestors attempting to burn down a hotel providing accommodation to asylum seekers.
The area has recently been characterised by race-driven civil disorder, with other past scenes such as the attack on 81-year-old Mushin Ahmed in 2016.
“The problem is that people are going to think that it is more flags telling them that they are not welcome,” Nuttall added.
Leaders of Rotherham Council said the intent was to create a “symbol of unity” and would not “surrender them to extremist or far-right groups”.