Stafford Pride launches legal action against Reform UK-led Staffordshire County Council

Stafford Pride has announced on social media it is launching legal action against Reform UK-led Staffordshire County Council. 

In a statement published on 20 January, organisers of the annual Pride event said they had applied for a small community grant in July 2025 from two local councillors: Cllr Jack Rose (Green Party) and Cllr Ann Edgeller (Conservatives).

While these two councillors “agreed a part of their community fund” to Stafford Pride, organisers have revealed Staffordshire County Council have “paid out every other community grant except ours”. 

Organisers added: “They are refusing an honest answer and saying it is with the Reform UK cabinet member for approval… This is vile homophobia from the Council.” 

This is vile homophobia from the Council.

On 27 January, organisers released another statement to their followers which read: “As an organisation, and supported by the generosity of a high-profile lawyer, we have commenced legal proceedings against Staffordshire County Council. 

“This is not and has never been about the money that was kindly allocated to us by two councillors; this is about standing up. Standing defiant against homophobia. Standing up to hate. Standing side by side with our community. 

“We can confirm legal action will cost our CIC nothing and all monies will continue to be poured into Stafford Pride 2026. 

“So Staffordshire County Council, still nothing to say?” 

Reform UK has increasingly drawn scrutiny for its stance on LGBTQ+ rights. The party’s platform includes pledges to ban what it calls “transgender ideology” in schools, prohibit social transitioning, and mandate parental notification for under‑16s expressing gender‑related needs, alongside commitments to enforce single‑sex spaces in public institutions. 

Several Reform-led or Reform‑influenced councils have taken steps viewed by critics as hostile to LGBTQ+ visibility - most notably implementing bans on flying Pride flags on public buildings and withdrawing financial support from Pride events such as Durham Pride, citing objections to what councillors describe as “political activism” associated with Pride gatherings.