Latest news with #DurhamMinersAssociation
Daily Mail
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Reform-controlled council axes funding for Pride march as deputy leader brands event 'political street theatre'
A Reform-controlled council has cut funding for a Pride march next year after its deputy leader branded the event 'political street theatre'. Darren Grimes, Durham County Council's second-in-command, said the money would instead be diverted to key services. The decision, however, has sparked fury from the event organisers and historic trade union, the Durham Miners' Association. The groups said the event is inclusive of everyone, attracts thousands of people from all over the UK, promotes tourism and helps to boost the local economy. Thousands of people descend on Durham every year for the annual celebration of the LGBT+ community. Durham County Council invested £12,500 in this year's event which is held across two days in May. Announcing the council's decision to scrap the funding, Mr Grimes said: 'Durham Pride won't be getting a single penny from this council next year. 'If Labour or the Lib Dems want to raid their members' budgets to fund political street theatre, that's on them - Reform will spend ours on the services everyone relies on, not on flying the latest alphabet flag for the professional offence industry. 'Pride stopped being a celebration of gay rights a long time ago. 'It's morphed into a travelling billboard for gender ideology and political activism that many in the gay community - myself included - want no part of. 'Taxpayers shouldn't be bankrolling it. The event can and will go ahead safely, but Durham County Council isn't an ATM for contested causes. 'Our residents deserve bins emptied, roads fixed and services funded - not more council-sponsored politics in fancy dress.' The row comes after Durham County Council sparked fury by removing a Pride flag from outside the council's HQ ahead of this year's event. A Ukrainian flag erected by the previous administration outside Durham County Hall was also removed. Liberal Democrat county councillor Ellie Hopgood said: 'We know from their social media posts that Reform councillors are keener on Russia's flag than Ukraine's or Pride's.' She added it was a 'petty and mean-spirited act' ahead of a Pride in Armed Forces event. But the council's deputy leader, Mr Grimes, defended the decision to fly the Union Jack, flag of St George and the County Durham flag. 'Together, they represent every Briton, gay or straight, black or white, Christian, Sikh, or otherwise, who has fought, died, and sacrificed under those colours,' he said. 'Flying our national and local flags is an act of unity. Swapping them out for niche political symbols is just more toxic identity politics.' Reform had previously been forced to clarify its stance on the flying of flags from council buildings. The party had announced that Reform-controlled councils would only fly the Union Jack or St George's flag. But there was uproar after it was claimed this would also ban the flying of county flags, such as the red rose flag of Lancashire. Reform later clarified that it would allow the flying of county flags.
BBC News
15 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Reform to cut Durham County Council's Pride funding, Grimes says
Reform leaders have cut council funding for an area's Pride event next Grimes, Durham County Council's deputy leader, criticised the annual celebration of the LGBT+ community and said the local authority would instead divert funding to key of people attended this year's festival, held in Durham City across two days in May, which saw up to £10,000 invested by the council as part of work to support the wider offer in the region following its unsuccessful City of Culture Miners' Association (DMA) said Reform had underestimated the level of resolve among supporters of the event. Grimes posted on social media platform X that Durham Pride "won't be getting a single penny from this council next year", arguing the event had "stopped being a celebration of gay rights a long time ago".He said it had "morphed into a travelling billboard for gender ideology and political activism that many in the gay community - myself included - want no part of".While adding the event "can and will go ahead safely", he wrote: "Durham County Council isn't an ATM for contested causes."Our residents deserve bins emptied, roads fixed, and services funded - not more council-sponsored politics in fancy dress." County councillors have historically supported the event financially through their budgets, but it is understood that was not possible this year due to the timing of elections, according to the Local Democracy Reporting added: "If Labour or the Lib Dems want to raid their members' budgets to fund political street theatre, that's on them - Reform will spend ours on the services everyone relies on." 'Promoting division' Durham Pride has teamed up with the DMA and the Trades Union Congress (TUC) to fundraise for future chairman Stephen Guy called for the trade union movement "to ramp up support for Durham Pride, which has been a target for closure since Reform was elected in County Durham".He said: "Reform councillors across County Durham have underestimated the resolve of the LGBT+ community and the support of allies across the trade union movement."Dave Pike, regional secretary for the TUC North East, Yorkshire & Humber, accused Reform of "promoting division" and said he was "proud to stand alongside the LGBT+ community in Durham, and the Miners' Association, for unity and for a society that respects people regardless of our differences".A fundraising event will be held at Redhill's, Durham Miners' Hall, on 5 leaders sparked a backlash in May after taking down an LGBT+ Pride flag at Durham County Hall shortly after taking control of the council. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
17-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Durham Miners' Gala: Reform UK councillors 'not invited' to event
Reform UK councillors have not been formally invited to the 139th Durham Miners' Gala after taking control of the local Miners Association (DMA) said the party had "chosen to criticise" the group publicly for its lack of invitation, but said it would not "abandon" its Farage's party won 65 of the 98 seats on Durham County Council in May and newly elected councillor Darren Grimes previously criticised the DMA's decision as the grandson of a Durham miner.A spokesman for Reform UK said the DMA "clearly holds the thousands of former miners and their families who voted for Reform in complete disdain". The DMA said while everyone in Durham was welcome at the Gala, Reform councillors did not share the group's beliefs in "community, in the labour movement and in social justice" and so would not be given a platform at the event."We have not and will not abandon our principles," it added. The first parade took place in 1871 and has become an annual tradition, with banners from former pit villages being paraded through the city the DMA did not invite the new Conservative MPs who won Red Wall seats in 2020 to the Gala over the party's historic treatment of miners.A spokesperson for Reform said the leaders of the DMA were "political dinosaurs" and "completely out of touch with their members and the people of County Durham"."Durham voters gave Reform UK an overwhelming majority on the council on 1 May," they said."The DMA clearly holds the thousands of former miners and their families who voted for Reform in complete disdain."The Gala will take place on 12 July. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
