VE Day parade to go ahead after councillor suggested it would be ‘elitist'
Liberal Democrat-led Dacorum Borough Council in Hertfordshire has overturned its decision not to hold an event to mark the end of the Second World War.
Commemorations are being held across the country on May 8 to mark the end of the war, including a flypast in London and a service at Westminster Abbey with members of the royal family.
While a Dacorum council meeting heard there would not be parade, in a statement released by the council on Wednesday, a spokesperson insisted no events have been cancelled and one will be held.
The intention for the event to go ahead was first revealed by Sir Ed, national leader of the Lib Dems, during a local election campaign visit to Gloucester.
'There will be a VE parade, I'm delighted to say,' he said.
'The council wants that. It would be daft not to have one, absolutely daft.
'I'm really looking forward to VE celebrations, the 80th anniversary.
'I think apparently a council officer took a decision without talking to the politicians.
'The politicians are now really clear, the VE parade will go ahead.'
Dacorum council cabinet member Caroline Smith-Wright had told a meeting on April 2 that there were no plans for a parade, suggesting such an event would be for the 'elite'.
She said: 'We have decided at this point to enable communities to come together and have street parties, and I think… that's for the community, that's for everyone, that encompasses everybody, it doesn't just leave the elite and people to just, kind of, parade.
'This is about normal people celebrating in their communities, sharing food, sitting at a table celebrating, and I think that's a fine way to celebrate VE Day.'
She added that the authority had 'done quite a bit of celebrating last year' to mark the council's 50th birthday.
The move received significant backlash, with opposition councillors calling for a rethink.
Conservative councillor Graeme Elliot said: 'I'm very dismayed about the lack of celebrations – my father fought in that war, I had an uncle that died in the Battle of France, that was the golden generation.
'You think that 50 years of a celebration of a council is far more important than the men and women that gave their lives so that we could stand here.'
David Taylor, Labour MP for Hemel Hempstead, shared a statement on X joining the calls for a rethink.
He said: 'I am disappointed by the Liberal Democrat-led council's decision to reject the proposal for a military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. I believe a parade is what our armed forces deserve.'
Dacorum Borough Council said in a statement: 'The Council has not cancelled its VE Day commemoration event or rejected calls for military parades as reported. VE Day belongs to all of us. We are absolutely committed to honouring the sacrifice of our armed forces and ensuring their memory lives on.
'The Council has a long and proud history of supporting commemorative events and our armed forces community.'
They said the council will be holding a joint commemorative event with the Royal British Legion as planned, with a parade at the War Memorial.
In addition, the council has purchased two 'Tommy Statues' and will be holding a celebratory Armed Forces Day event in June, a commemorative service for VJ Day in August and the annual Remembrance Parade on November 9 and Remembrance Day service on November 11.
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