“We are here and we have a voice.” Durham Pride vows to continue after Reform UK removed Pride flag from council headquarters

Durham Pride, which is taking place this weekend, have said “we are here and we have a voice” after Reform UK, which took control of Durham County Council at the UK local elections, removed the Pride Flag from council headquarters.

Reform UK’s Darren Grimes, deputy leader of Durham County Council, defended the decision to replace the Pride flag with the St George’s flag and said the party was not anti-gay but was “anti-tokenism”.

“Flying our national and local flags is an act of unity. Swapping them out for niche political symbols is just more toxic identity politics,” he said.

Mel Metcalf, chair of Durham Pride, said: “We are of course disappointed. But Sunday is about celebrating who we are and giving a nice clear loud message that the flag might have come down on County Hall but we still live in County Durham.

“Many people from the LGBT+ community will still identify and will still show the new council that we are here and that we have a voice.”

A Durham County Council spokesperson said the only flags that would be flown at County Hall were Durham’s county flag, the union jack and the St George’s flag.

Mel said the flag had been flying at the council’s headquarters during Pride week for about 12 years and was a way of showing Durham was inclusive.

He said there were concerns over the future of Durham Pride, which sees thousands of people come together to celebrate LGBTQ+ rights, but vowed it would continue.

“I think we are the first Pride to face this challenge and it is a challenge,” he said.

“We don’t know what the challenge is and we don’t know if Pride will go ahead next year, that’s the concern of a lot of people.

“All I can say is Pride will happen every year in Durham. It might not be with support from Durham County Council but there will be support from many others.”