MP blasts Reform after event axed and funding cut

CONCERNS have been raised about one North East event being cancelled and another having its funding slashed. Alan Strickland, MP for Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor, spoke about Reform taking over Durham County Council in Prime Minister's Questions.

- KRISTY DAWSON

He told the House of Commons on Wednesday that the party, which is led by Nigel Farage, had slashed funding for Durham Pride and that the city's Lumiere Festival had been cancelled. Both events have been held annually in Durham City.

The Labour MP said Durham Pride brings in 20,000 people a year into the area and Lumiere - a large-scale light art festival - has attracted nearly one-and-a-half million people since it started in 2009. He said the Reform council was "undermining businesses and undermining communities".

Alan, who has been MP since July 4 last year, asked the Prime Minster: "Would the Prime Minister agree that if Reform can't run one county council they certainly can't run Scotland, Wales or our United Kingdom?" Sir Keir Starmer responded by saying that those who vote Reform will get "total chaos and broken promises".