A Labour councillor has described Operation Raise the Colours as an "attempt by a bunch of criminals, extremists (and) nonces to hijack our national flag".

Hertsmere Borough Council's Labour leader, Jeremy Newmark, made the comment at a council meeting on Wednesday last week, prompting gasps from other councillors.

It came in response to a question put by Conservative councillor Brett Rosehill.

The Operation Raise the Colours movement aims to putting up St George's flags and the Union Jack across towns in Britain.

Before the council meeting, Mr Rosehill said the movement reflected "public sentiment" and asked Mr Newmark to "guarantee that these displays will not be removed in our borough".

During the meeting, Mr Rosehill said Mr Newmark was "constantly linking our national flag to extremism".

He warned that it could "run the risk of letting extremists define it instead of reclaiming it for the mainstream", according to the Welwyn Hatfield Times.

Mr Newmark responded saying: "I'm sorry but I'm not playing".

Councillor Jeremy Newmark made the remarks last week

"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 this question to the council about Operation Raise the Colours," he said.

"Operation Raise the Colours: an organised, orchestrated attempt by a bunch of criminals, extremists (and) nonces to hijack our national flag."

Mr Newmark said it was an "organisation" which Mr Rosehill cited "in glowing terms in your question".

"Look at the individuals behind that organisation," he said.

Councillor Brett Rosehill said the movement reflected public sentiment

"Look at the individuals behind Tommy Robinson's event this weekend. Look at their string of criminal convictions, sex offences and such like."

Mr Newmark said that "if those are the people" his opposing councillors were quoting in the meeting, and saw "fit to laud ... (and) use as part of normative political discourse" it was very wrong.

He added that Hertsmere will not remove flags unless there is a clear and present risk to public safety.

The higher tier authority, responsible for highways, Liberal Democrat-run Hertfordshire County Council, said it will remove "unapproved items" when workers are in that area.

Mr Newmark said he strongly supported the display of "our national flags".

He said that while there has been "genuine and heartfelt" patriotism, there was also attempts to associate the flags with the operation.

The Labour leader said the effort aimed to misusing the union flag to intimidate certain groups.

Mr Newmark added that there was "reliable evidence" that organisers behind the movement were long-standing "far-right activists" and many had serious convictions for racially motivated violence.

He said there was merit in ensuring the flag was displayed correctly and respectfully.

But, it must be reclaimed from "extremist groups" and affirm its true meaning.

The council meeting comes after the Unite the Kingdom march in central London which saw up to 150,000 people pack the streets.

The demonstration, overwhelmingly attended by peaceful protesters, left 26 police officers injured, according to the Met Police.