Durham Pride has been held since 2014 and grew to welcome 20,000 people in 2023. Durham County Council invested up to £10,000 in the 2025 event, which drew several thousand attendees, but Reform UK council support was withdrawn for the 2026 celebrations. The council’s deputy leader, Darren Grimes, said the funding would be diverted to services rather than “contested causes,” and criticized the Pride agenda as political activism. After the funding cut, trade unions in the county raised money to ensure Durham Pride 2026 could proceed. Fundraising succeeded and generated more money than the amount removed from the council budget, including a £7,200 donation from Equity.
"“Durham Pride won't be getting a single penny from this council next year.” Grimes added of the event's agenda: “Pride stopped being a celebration of gay rights a long time ago. It's morphed into a travelling billboard for gender ideology and political activism that many in the gay community - myself included - want no part of. Taxpayers shouldn't be bankrolling it.”"
"He went on to explain that the event could go ahead, but clarified that Durham County Council “isn't an ATM for contested causes”. “Our residents deserve bins emptied, roads fixed, and services funded - not more council-sponsored politics in fancy dress,” he continued. Grimes concluded that Reform would spend its budgets on “the services everyone relies on, not on flying the latest alphabet flag for the professional offence industry”."
"Following the decision, trade unions in the county came together to raise money and ensure Durham Pride 2026 could go ahead despite the financial setback. Fundraising efforts were a huge success, and brought in more money than was originally cut from the council's budget. British trade union Equity was one of the biggest patrons, having donated £7,200 to the cause."
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