Reform UK Councils Remove Pride, Ukrainian Flags in Multiple Counties

Following their recent local election victories, Reform UK councils in Durham and Kent have removed the Ukrainian and LGBTQ+ Pride flags from outside their headquarters, choosing to fly only the Union Jack, flag of St George, and respective county flags. In Durham, Reform UK secured 65 seats and removed the flags shortly after taking control, drawing sharp criticism from opposition councillors like Liberal Democrat Ellie Hopgood, who called the move disrespectful ahead of a Pride in Armed Forces event. Durham's deputy leader, Darren Grimes, defended the decision, emphasizing that the party is "anti-tokenism" rather than anti-gay. Similarly, in Kent, newly elected Reform leader Linden Kemkaran banned flags representing "special interest groups," including the Pride and Ukrainian flags, asserting that the focus should be on shared identities symbolized by traditional flags. The decision in Kent was met with applause from Reform supporters but condemnation from opposition members, who accused the party of aligning with pro-Russian sentiments and undermining local governance autonomy. Critics warn these actions reflect a broader agenda by Reform UK to reject inclusivity symbols and centralize control, sparking fears about the future of community and environmental initiatives under their administration.