A Labour council leader is facing calls to quit after being shown on camera labelling St George’s flag campaigners as ‘criminals’ and ‘nonces’.
Former parliamentary candidate Jeremy Newmark spoke out over a movement known as Operation Raise The Colours – prompting gasps from fellow members of Hertsmere Borough Council in Hertfordshire.
Mr Newmark accused the group of running ‘an attempt by a bunch of extremists, criminals, nonces to hijack our national flag’.
His remarks came days after an estimated 150,000 supporters of ex-English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson took part in a ‘Unite The Kingdom’ rally in London.
He was responding to a question from a Conservative councillor in the affluent Home Counties area, over whether he supported Liberal Democrats-run Hertfordshire County Council taking down Union Flags and St George’s crosses.
Mr Newmark stood and lost at the 2017 general election as Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Finchley and Golders Green, a constituency historically associated with Margaret Thatcher who was Finchley MP from 1959 to 1992.
Opposition councillors have now condemned him for allegedly ‘forfeiting his integrity’ and ‘pushing people apart’.
Tory councillor Brett Rosehill said to him at the meeting last Wednesday: ‘You’ve spoken about extremists.
‘Do you accept that by constantly linking our national flag to extremism as well as many Labour MPs at the moment, that you run the risk of letting extremists define it instead of reclaiming it for the mainstream?’
Mr Newmark replied by saying: ‘I’m sorry but I’m not playing.
‘I won’t be taking lectures on our national flag and extremism from a councillor that has the audacity to speak in almost glowing terms in his question to this council about Operation Raise the Colours.
‘Operation Raise the Colours – an organised and orchestrated attempt by a bunch of criminals, extremists, nonces to hijack our national flag.
‘Yes, Councillor Rosehill, this is the organisation that you cited in glowing terms in your question.
‘Look at the individuals behind that organisation, look at the individuals behind Tommy Robinson’s event this weekend.
‘Look at their string of criminal convictions, sex offences and suchlike. If those are the people that councillors in the group opposite see fit to quote in this chamber, see fit to laud in this chamber and to see fit to use as part of normative political discourse – something is very wrong.’
The Conservative group on the local authority, run by a Labour-Liberal Democrats coalition since 2023, called for Mr Newmark’s immediate suspension or resignation.
They said: ‘Our borough deserves leadership that unites, respects, and upholds the highest standards – not one that fuels division and disrespect.
‘His words have had real consequence over the weekend, stirring hostility and undermining community cohesion.’
Conservative group leader Lynette Sullivan said: ‘The words I said in Full Council that night still ring true. It is up to us, as local leaders and Conservatives, to step forward with calm, clarity, and compassion to bring people together, not push them apart.
‘Councillor Newmark’s words have had far-reaching consequences.
‘He modelled behaviour that was not in the best interests of residents and must be held accountable.’
And her deputy Harvey Cohen said: ‘Any leader who insults residents and undermines trust has forfeited integrity. Hertsmere deserves better – he must resign.’
The Daily Mail has contacted Hertsmere Borough Council for comment.
Mr Newmark has said in a statement on the Hertsmere Labour website: ‘I accept that some of the language I used was wrong and am sorry for that.
‘I also accept that some people have ascribed a broader meaning to my words and am very sorry about that indeed. That was not my intention. It does not reflect my views.
‘My remarks came against the backdrop of false claims by Tommy Robinson that our council is paying to house asylum seekers instead of local residents
‘I’m proud to be part of a Labour-led council that expresses patriotism by building decent homes, by ensuring no one is left behind and creating good jobs and economic growth so that local people feel pride in their work.
‘I am sorry that my remarks have been interpreted in the wrong way and reaffirm my pride in our work to promote positive community relations in Hertsmere.’
