Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram has voiced his disappointment following the decision by St Helens Council to cease all support for Pride events. The council, now under the control of Reform UK after sweeping local elections in May, has implemented a series of controversial measures under its new leader, Councillor George Woodward.
Reform UK's Controversial Decisions
Councillor Woodward first sparked outrage by withdrawing funding and support for the town's Refugee Week events. Now, he has announced that the council will no longer support Pride events celebrating LGBT+ culture throughout June. Additionally, library teams have been instructed to remove all references to Pride from council libraries.
In a social media statement, Councillor Woodward said: "We don't consider celebrations of sexuality, especially those with left-wing political leanings such as Pride, to be appropriate for St Helens Borough Council to dedicate valuable officer resources. I am also deeply concerned that Pride has become affiliated with harmful transgender ideology. As a council, we have a duty of care towards young children in the borough." He added that individuals, private sector entities, and charities are welcome to support the event independently.
Backlash and Metro Mayor's Response
The decision has drawn strong backlash from local Labour MPs and community groups. During an interview on BBC Radio Merseyside, Mayor Steve Rotheram expressed his disappointment, stating: "We're talking about communities, we're talking about cohesion, we're talking about everyone trying to pull together and not being pulled apart."
While acknowledging Councillor Woodward's electoral mandate, Mayor Rotheram emphasized his own responsibility to represent St Helens as part of the city region. He said: "I wouldn't tread on anybody's turf if it's just purely about something the council are doing, fine, but this does affect the communities that I also serve. I'm disappointed that we're looking towards reducing the impact of a council in an area to bring people together."
Defending Pride and Diversity
Mayor Rotheram rejected Councillor Woodward's remarks about transgender ideology, asserting that Pride events are about celebrating love and diversity. He said: "Pride is about celebrating the love of people to each other. I think that's a good thing in a world of madness that we have these celebrations, these commemorations, these comings together which brings communities closer."
He further criticized the removal of Pride references from libraries, stating: "I wouldn't do it. I'd promote the thing. I'd be the opposite. I think our diversity is an asset to us." The Metro Mayor highlighted that the Combined Authority actively celebrates diversity, including participation in Pride marches supporting the LGBTQI+ community.
Concerns for Council Staff and Community Cohesion
Mayor Rotheram expressed concern for council employees who may feel anxious under the new administration, noting recent homophobic attacks in Liverpool. He concluded: "We want to promote equality, we want to promote diversity, and we want to have a cohesive society that comes together that is not divided and is sometimes politicised by certain parties."
