Gary Neville apparently linked the incident with the Raise the Colours motion (Image: GETTY)
Construction employees on Gary Neville’s £400 million redevelopment challenge have voiced their anger after the previous England footballer ordered the elimination of a Union Jack flag from the location, whereas leaving international flags untouched. The incident apparently unfolded final week on the St Michael’s growth in Manchester metropolis centre, the place Neville, 50, noticed the Union Jack flying on the fifth ground alongside a Moldovan flag and one other from a distinct nation.
Joiners from subcontractor, Domis Construction, had hoisted the flags as a gesture of camaraderie among the many multinational workforce, a typical apply on UK constructing websites. Neville, strolling previous the location, is known to have instantly radioed the location supervisor demanding that the Union Jack be taken down, regardless of the opposite flags.
Read extra: Lee Anderson’s livid six-word broadside for Gary Neville
Gary Neville taking part in within the 2006 World Cup (Image: Getty)
The flag was eliminated promptly, adopted by obligatory “toolbox talks” for all employees explaining that no flags or political messages are permitted on website.
One nameless employee described the selective order as baffling. The joiner advised the Daily Mail: “He only mentioned the Union Flag, not the other two – and said it had to come down.
“Obviously he’s the boss, and we aren’t going to argue with him. But Union Flags are usually placed on constructing websites. It occurs all around the nation. Gary Neville performed for England, however he will not allow us to put a flag as much as have a good time the nation the place we dwell. It’s brought about loads of anger.”
The joiner continued: “People who work on development websites are from all over, all completely different nations and all of us get on very well.
So @GNev2 is asking why folks at the moment are flying the union flag of their cities.
I’ll let you know why – folks really feel threatened and really feel they haven’t been listened to for many years. You had no downside in taking part in in entrance of the England flag. And the center aged English males you discuss… https://t.co/9Z3Dc6Gnqz
— Lee Anderson MP (@LeeAndersonMP_) October 5, 2025
“So there was no ill-meaning behind it. The lads were just putting flags up from where they are from. Everyone else can put their flags up so why can’t we?”
Neville addressed the episode in a LinkedIn video posted on Friday, framing it amid heightened nationwide tensions. He defined: “Funnily enough, on one of my development sites last week, there was a Union Jack flag put up, and I took it down instantly.
“Some folks is likely to be watching this and considering, ‘Gary you aren’t very patriotic’. I performed for my nation 85 occasions and love my nation. I like Manchester and I like England.”
Neville continued: “But I’ve been constructing on this metropolis for 15 or 20 years, and there was nobody put a Union Jack flag up within the final 15 or 20 years, so why do it is advisable to put one up now?
“It is quite clearly sending a message to everybody that there is something you don’t like.”
Police officers stroll in direction of the scene at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Crumpsall (Image: PA)
He linked the choice to the “Operation Raise the Colours” marketing campaign, which promotes flying England and Union flags from lamp posts and has ties to protests close to asylum resorts.
The video got here days after a horrific Yom Kippur assault on the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation in Greater Manchester, throughout which Islamist terrorist Jihad Al-Shamie killed two worshippers and injured three in a knife and automotive rampage.
Neville condemned what he known as the “division that is being created is absolutely disgusting, mainly created by angry middle-aged white men who know exactly what they are doing”.
St Michael’s, spearheaded by Neville’s Relentless property agency since 2022, will ship workplaces, flats, a resort, bars, eating places and cafes by 2027.
Neville, a former Manchester United defender with an estimated £100 million property portfolio, is understood for his left-leaning views and has confronted “champagne socialist” jibes, although he insists he’s a profit-driven capitalist.
Workers, sure by non-disclosure agreements, spoke out defying orders. One mentioned: “Some are questioning who Gary Neville thinks he is to tell them what flags they can put up in their place of work.”
Social media backlash has been swift, with requires Neville’s sacking as a Sky Sports pundit. Reform UK MP Lee Anderson, posting on X, described the defender as “completely out of touch”.
Express.co.uk has contacted Neville, Relentless and Domis for remark; none had responded at time of publication.
https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/2118162/gary-neville-union-jack-flag-builders-furious