Flag Force, one of the groups behind the spate of flags being put up in York and elsewhere, declined to comment. The comments come after flags have been attached to lamp posts in York and cities across the country since mid-August. She added parish councillors and residents standing up to flag fliers had been threatened with having their personal details published in response. PhD student Isabella Langdon told councillors said York risked going down a dark road if behaviour seen in the wake of flags going up is allowed to continue. “This is real and it’s what’s happening in our city right now.”Local teacher and Green Party activist Michael Kearney told councillors homophobic and transphobic abuse was also surging.