With the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicking off next week, England flags could soon be appearing on homes, pubs and streets across south east London once again.
But after the controversy surrounding Operation Raise the Colours last year, opinions remain divided over what the St George's Cross represents.
For that reason, we’re asking south east Londoners: will you be putting up English flags for the World Cup?
The tournament begins next Thursday (June 11) and runs until July 19, with England facing Croatia, Ghana and Panama in the group stage.
For decades, major football tournaments have seen supporters decorate homes, businesses and cars with England flags and bunting.
One of the most famous local examples came during the 2018 World Cup when hundreds of St George's flags were displayed across the Kirby Estate in Bermondsey.
However, this year's tournament will be the first since Operation Raise the Colours emerged.
The campaign, which began in August 2025, encouraged people to display Union Jacks and St George's flags in public places, including attaching them to lampposts and other street furniture.
Supporters described it as a grassroots movement promoting patriotism, unity and national pride.
Critics, including anti-racism organisations, argued it had become associated with far-right activism and anti-immigrant sentiment.
A YouGov poll conducted last year found that 52 per cent of ethnic minority adults in Britain believed the St George's flag had become a racist symbol, compared with 36 per cent of white adults.
The same research found that both white and ethnic minority respondents were more likely to view widespread lamppost flag displays as an anti-migrant or anti-ethnic minority message than a simple expression of patriotism.
Despite the controversy, support for the campaign was strong among News Shopper readers.
When we asked readers whether they supported Operation Raise the Colours in August 2025, 98 per cent of more than five million votes cast backed the campaign.
Locally, Bromley and Bexley Councils have both said flags attached to public property may be removed if they pose health and safety risks, while Sutton Council said it would remove any flags on public property.
Flags displayed on private property, including homes and businesses, do not require council permission.
Now, as England prepare for another World Cup, we want to know what south east Londoners think.
Will you be putting up an England flag this summer? Cast your vote in our poll and let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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