Deputy leader criticises gala's 'hard left cranks'

A ROW between County Durham's new Reform UK leaders and the organisers of the Durham Miners' Gala continued at the gala itself on Saturday.

- SAM VOLPE

The war of words erupted when the council's new deputy leader, Coun Darren Grimes, criticised what he said was a “ban” on Reform councillors attending, only for the Durham Miners’ Association (DMA) to say they would be welcome to attend the open event, but simply wouldn’t be invited to the official platform.

The DMA said this was because of a range of political differences, adding that those associated with Reform “do not share our beliefs in the community, in the labour movement and in social justice”. In response, Reform called the DMA “political dinosaurs”.