Latest news with #DurhamMinersGala
BBC News
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Pride group celebrates 'fabulous' inclusion in Durham Miners' Gala
Crowds have gathered in the sun to watch brass bands, trade unions, pride groups and pit banners come together for the 139th Durham Miners' year's event marked the 41st anniversary of the miners' strike and saw a lively parade pass through the streets of Durham is the first time Pride have been designated a block of the parade and Mel Metcalf, chair of Durham Pride, said it "meant an awful lot" to be invited. "To be here with Lesbians and Gays Support The Miners (LGSM), where it all started in 1984 and 1985 during the strike, it's fabulous," she said. Ms Metcalf said, whose father and grandfather were miners, said it was her first time at the said: "It means an awful lot to be here because of the history."It was a strange combination back in the 80s and social media pages have lit up because of the connection."Miners' strike 1984: Why UK miners walked out and how it ended Ms Metcalf said that people forget that Mike Jackson a co-founder of LGSM, was at the strike back in the said: "It's inspiring to see him and the team, but also inspiring that Durham Miners' Association have invited us in recognition of that connection."Solidarity is a word that is going to be used well today." MP for Jarrow and Gateshead East Kate Osborne was pleased to see the LGBT block as part of the said there is a "close association between the miners and the LGBT community"."It's massive, that's not to say that LGBT people have not been here for many years," she said. Follow BBC North East on X and Facebook and BBC Cumbria on X and Facebook and both on 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.
