Builder Ordered to Remove Union Jack Flag by Gary Neville Speaks Out

One of the builders who were made to remove a Union Jack flag from Gary Neville’s building site has now broken his silence on the issue. The former Manchester United defender, now one of the highest-paid pundits in football, is facing heavy backlash after going on a political tirade and singling out “angry middle-aged white men.”

The 50-year-old sparked outrage over the weekend with a video posted on his LinkedIn account, criticising Britons who were fastening St George’s and Union Jack flags to lampposts across the country following the Heaton Park synagogue attack. He explained that he felt “we were all being turned on each other to create a disgusting division,” and cited this as the reason he also removed a flag from one of his building sites. Watch his viral video below:

Sky Sports have reportedly made the decision not to punish the pundit, despite calls from figures like Simon Jordan. However, construction workers who had been flying the flag at his St Michael’s office redevelopment site in Bootle Street, Manchester, were outraged by his intervention, with one worker now speaking out vocally in criticism.

Construction Worker Slams Neville Over Union Jack Flag Removal

One worker accused Neville, who has become a property developer since he stopped playing football, of being unpatriotic and suppressing free speech. He said that the former England footballer saw the Union Flag as he walked past, and immediately went to the gate and asked to speak to the construction site manager over the radio system, so he could demand it was taken down.

The employee exclusively told the Daily Mail: “He was walking past when he saw the flag flying on the fifth floor along with a Moldovan flag and another one. He got on the radio to one of the workers and started asking why the Union Flag was up there. He only mentioned the Union Flag, not the other two – and said it had to come down. Obviously, he is the boss, and we are not going to argue with him. But Union Flags are normally put on building sites. It happens all over the country.

He added: “Afterwards, we had to do ‘toolbox chats’ for everyone about political messages on the building site. Basically we had to explain why we can’t have flags, and we can’t express our political views because Gary Neville says we can’t.” The three flags on the site are said to have been hung up by joiners working for the main constructor Domis Construction.

The worker, who was speaking anonymously and defying an order not to speak of the incident, said the Union Flag was visible from the street while the two others were more hidden inside the site. They continued: “Some of us disagreed, but we had to take them down. Some are questioning who Gary Neville thinks he is to tell them what flags they can put up in their place of work. Flags are being put up all over the country.

“Obviously, there are bad times in this country at the moment, and this is the way people are trying to unite together. But in speaking out about it, Neville’s opened a can of worms.”

Neville will be hoping the controversy dies down before the next Premier League weekend, when he is sure to be a prominent voice covering Manchester United’s trip to Anfield to face arch-rivals Liverpool. The international break delays that fixture, giving the pundit a perfect chance to reset and let the storm pass between now and October 19.