Council under fire after Pride funding cancelled

A major fundraiser has been organised after funding was pulled for Durham Pride in 2026.

- By KALI LINDSAY

Reform-controlled Durham County Council has withdrawn its funding for the event, with the authority's deputy leader calling it “political street theatre” that “stopped being a celebration of gay rights a long time ago”.

It comes after the council removed the Pride flag from outside the council’s HQ ahead of this year’s event. Durham Pride,

Durham Miners Association and the TUC have condemned the decision to axe funding for the annual celebration, which has been a fixture in the city for over a decade.

The groups say the event is inclusive of everyone, attracts thousands of people from all over the UK, promoting tourism and helping to boost the local economy.

Coun Darren Grimes, deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for finance, policy and communications, said: “Durham Pride won't be getting a single penny from this council next year.

“If Labour or the Lib Dems want to raid their members’ budgets to fund political street theatre, that's on them - Reform will spend ours on the services everyone relies on, not on flying the latest alphabet flag for the professional offence industry.