Gala's organisers blast Reform over 'ban' claim

THE organisers of the annual Durham Miners' Gala have hit out at Reform UK and councillors they allege are “racist” in a statement explaining why the councillors won't be invited as guests.

- SAM VOLPE Reporter

The statement laid out a range of political differences - and set out the gala leaders’ view that Reform's representatives “do not share our beliefs in community, in the labour movement and in social justice”.

In response, a spokesperson for the party called the gala organisers “political dinosaurs” and said they held the party’s voters in “disdain”.

Reform took control of Durham County Council after storming to victory in local elections last month.

The council’s new deputy leader, Coun Darren Grimes, shared a social media video in which he claimed Reform councillors had been “banned” from the gala, which is this year set to take place on July 12.

Coun Grimes said: “The Durham Miners’ Gala has BANNED Reform UK councillors from attending -- despite our landslide win. My grandad was a miner. I was elected by his community, even his wife. But I’m told I'm not the right kind of gay. Not the right kind of working class. Not the right kind of miner’s grandson.”