Union concerned over withdrawal of Pride support

The decision by a council to withdraw support from a town's Pride event is "really concerning", according to a union.

Mark Arnull, the Reform UK leader of West Northamptonshire Council, told a full council meeting that no funding had been given to the Northampton event by the authority this year, and no officer time would be spent on it in the future.

He said the event would continue but without council support, bringing it into line with other events.

Lynsey Tod, regional Unison manager, said Arnull's decision was "a knee-jerk reaction to something that someone didn't like".

The ninth Northampton Pride event took place on Saturday in the town's market square.

Tod told Annabel Amos on BBC Radio Northampton that "it was really concerning and surprising to hear his comments in the council chamber".

"Pride is not just a celebration, it's a very inclusive event where visibility, cohesion and respect is celebrated," she said.

"People feel seen and included in their community and the council plays a massive, important role ensuring that happens across our communities.

"To go from a weekend of celebrations when people had a great time to suddenly saying it's a terrible event that we're not supporting, there's a lot of questions that need to be asked.

"It's a knee-jerk reaction to something that someone didn't like. The message that it's sending is really disappointing."

Arnull said: "The council will now apply more consistently its resources across all events and won't be supporting Pride with officer time in the same way.

"If we look at it in terms of staff hours, resources, it's about £9,950 of time and resource, but that's not fair on all the other events we don't support.

"I think the word here is 'equal'."

He added that he was disappointed the event was "politicised" and it was not the "place for that".

Euphoria Scargill, co-founder of the Northants Lesbian Society, who took part in Saturday's event, said: "Pride is political – it has to be political because it is about freedom and our basic right, and it's a day to show we are just like them and we deserve the same rights as them and to be ourselves and be free."

She added the event was for everyone, "brings footfall to the town" and would continue.

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