Keir Starmer on Monday night backed the public's right to fly St George's flags after furious locals thwarted a second council's efforts to remove them from lamp posts.
Council workers in Tower Hamlets, east London, were met with abuse as they began to tear down England and Union Jack flags which were hung by patriotic campaigners.
It came after Birmingham City Council provoked a backlash last week by announcing it would begin removing hundreds of similar flags from the city's streets for 'safety reasons'.
Critics have pointed out that Palestine flags were left to fly in parts of Birmingham and the east London borough – both of which have large Muslim populations – for months without being challenged by authorities.
An online movement called 'Operation Raise the Colours' has led to communities across the country hanging up flags, including in Bradford, Newcastle and Norwich.
