Peter Tatchell Foundation urges Pride in London to explain £631,950 expenditure

The Peter Tatchell Foundation has written to all board members of Pride in London seeking "urgent answers" over its finances and the "continued delay" in publishing the internal investigation into alleged corruption and mismanagement.

The letter, addressed to directors of London LGBT Community Pride CIC (LLCP), calls for the immediate release of a withheld internal report into allegations of financial malpractice, which was promised in 2025. The findings of that investigation, Peter Tatchell Foundation, say have still not been made public.

Earlier this month, Pride in London's chief executive Christopher Joell-Deshields was dismissed following an investigation into alleged misconduct, including claims of financial mismanagement and the misuse of funds intended for volunteers for the purchase of luxury items.

Pride in London’s Chief Executive sacked for allegedly using volunteer vouchers to obtain luxury goods

The chief executive of Pride in London, one of the world’s largest Pride celebrations, has been dismissed following allegations that he used thousands of pounds’ worth of vouchers intended for volunteers to make personal purchases. Christopher Joell-Deshields, who denies any wrongdoing, was suspended from his role last September after

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Against this backdrop, Peter Tatchell Foundation has raised specific questions about expenditures contained in Pride in London’s 2024 accounts – the latest accounts published. These expenditures total £631,950.  

Peter Tatchell, Director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation and a co-organiser of the first UK Pride in 1972, said: “The itemisation of expenditure lacks sufficient detail to ally our concerns. It includes £278,000 in salaries, £5,400 in hotel and travel expenses, £194,000 in advertising and promotion, and £154,550 as directors’ remuneration - the latter expenditure is especially troubling because the Pride directors are typically described as unpaid volunteers.

“Pride in London belongs to the LGBTQ+ community, not to any individual or board. Full transparency and accountability are essential if trust is to be maintained. Without it, we can have no confidence in the future of Pride in London.”

He added: “These expenditures may have legitimate explanations, but without detailed itemisation and disclosure we cannot know that. The delay in publishing the investigation only deepens concern. We want to work with Pride in London to make this year’s parade a huge success but we cannot do that without full transparency.”

The Peter Tatchell Foundation has requested a copy of the internal report and detailed answers to its questions at the “earliest convenience,” warning that openness is vital to restoring trust and confidence in one of the UK’s largest LGBTQ+ events.

As well as being a co-organiser of the first UK Pride in 1972, Peter Tatchell has attended every Pride London march since then – 54 marches in total. For much of the last five decades, he has been a patron of Pride in London. 

Responding to Peter Tatchell Foundation, Pride in London said: "Legal proceedings are ongoing against Mr Joell-Desheilds, and as a result, this isn’t something the organisation is able to publish publicly at present.

"Regarding salaries: While we are a volunteer led organisation, it takes 12 months to plan, fundraise and deliver Pride in London. This requires a small number of full-time employed roles. In 23/24 (the accounting year in question) four salaried roles were required. The current number of salaried roles is two.  

"LLCP is part of a global pride network, and in Partnership with the GLA is bidding to host WorldPride in London. There are certain criteria that must be met as a bidding organisation, one of which is to attend other global pride events, which require travel and accommodation.  

"As our attendance expands, reaching 1.8 million last year, alongside rising costs, expenses relating to marketing, advertising, promotion and related operations have necessarily increased. This is in part reflective of the need to support our growing reach and new, inclusive spaces, and covers a range of costs and professional partnerships.

"The up-to-date accounts for 2023-24, which are available on Companies House, confirm a lower figure of £67,050, reflecting remuneration to statutory directors who are also paid employees. Please note that a large proportion of this figure therefore reflects employee salaries and is also reflected in salary figures (rather than being quoted in addition to employee salaries)."