'Authoritarian' warning over Pride attack

N ATTACK by a Reform councillor on a planned Mini Pride event at Storyhouse in Chester was described by another member of the authority as a ‘dangerous precedent’ on a ‘slippery road towards authoritarianism:

- BY MARK SMITH

Storyhouse plans to host a mini pride event. Inset: Cllr Mandy Clare (left) and Annabel Turpin

Cheshire West and Chester Council convened an extraordinary meeting to debate a motion originally tabled by Reform councillor Mandy Clare, who had urged the authority to reexamine its funding and contractual arrangements for Chester Storyhouse.

The move was prompted by the venue’s planned hosting of a Mini Pride event, which had also brought criticism from the leader of the borough’s Conservative group Cllr Adrian Waddelove.

Mini Pride is part of the venue's Storyhouse Queer list of events, described as ‘a week celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community in Chester and beyond with theatre, music, dance, film and more!

The venue's website describes the specific event as: “Ignite your imagination by taking part in fun activities from colourful arts and crafts to inclusive story times with our curious artists.”

During the session an amended motion was tabled by Cllr Waddelove who claimed the original motion ‘went too far!

He said: “The proposition of removing funding for Storyhouse is not one which this Conservative group could or would support.

“However, it is a publicly-funded venue paid for by taxpayers right across the Cheshire West and Chester borough to the tune of £1.1 million.