Darren Grimes, Durham City Council’s new deputy leader for Reform has been busy in his new role.
His first move, to remove a Pride flag, was made on the first day the party officially assumed control of Durham County Council. A Ukrainian flag has also been removed.
Liberal Democrat councillor Ellie Hopgood condemned the decision and said it was a “disrespectful, mean-spirited act” ahead of Saturday’s Pride in Armed Forces event in Durham.
The council’s deputy leader Darren Grimes, who is gay, defended the decision and said the party was not anti-gay but was “anti-tokenism”.
Reform, whose landmark local election victory saw it secure 65 seats in Durham, officially took control of the local authority earlier, with the party’s Andrew Husband elected as council leader.
It has renamed several key departments to remove references to climate change and equality and inclusion.
Flags
He added: “As a newly Reform council, we have taken down foreign flags and the latest iteration of the pride flag outside of Durham’s County Hall.”
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Related: “Reform councils pledge to scrap LTNs…but there is one catch.”
