By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
A council leader, who has called out homophobic insults he suffered growing up, has sparked backlash from Reform UK after suggesting homophobes have gone on to become councillors for Nigel Farage’s party.
Liberal Democrat Richard Stanley made the comments in an online video explaining why Tewkesbury Borough Council will not be taking down the Pride flag which flies outside their offices.
He said in the online video that he, along with others, were subjected to homophobic abuse by other schoolchildren while growing up.
“What happened to those kids? If you look at the comments section you will get a good idea,” he said.
“They didn’t grow out of it. Quite a lot of them carried it on.
“Quite a lot of them become Reform councillors. Reform councils across the country have been taking down Pride flags.
“Tewkesbury is not going to be taking down ours. It’s flying high and proud to support the LGBT+.
“If you don’t like the Pride flag, don’t look at it. Simple as that.”
Reform UK have hit out at the comments and accuse Cllr Stanley of using generic social media comments and national political generalisations to suggest that Reform UK councillors hold prejudicial and homophobic views.
They also believe that, because Councillor Graham Bocking is the only Reform UK councillor serving the Tewkesbury Borough, the “sweeping statements directly target his character and service record”.
Responding to the video, Cllr Bocking said he was “deeply disappointed” that Cllr Stanley had “chosen to use his platform to take cheap political shots at another party”.
“As the only Reform UK councillor in Tewkesbury, some might mistakenly believe from his video that I hold homophobic views,” he said.
“I want to state categorically to all residents: I do not, I never have, and I never will.
“I do not put people into boxes, nor do I treat people differently based on labels. My job is to serve everyone. I treat all our residents equally and show them the absolute respect they deserve.”
A spokesperson for Reform UK said the party is open to all British citizens, no matter who they are and “proudly welcome people from all ethnicities, races, backgrounds, sexualities, and genders”.
They said Cllr Bocking has a flawless record of dedication to his constituents and has never shown a single shred of intolerant behaviour.
“It is regrettable that the Liberal Democrat leadership of Tewkesbury Borough Council is choosing to import divisive national identity politics instead of focusing on the local issues that matter to our residents,” they said.
Cllr Stanley said his post is about support for the LGBT+ community. And that it highlights the impact of bullying and the link between Reform councils withdrawing support for Pride events, their obsession with removing Pride flags and councillors posting anti-LGBT+ views.
“Reform lead councils including Barnsley, Havering, Sunderland, Gateshead and Essex have withdrawn support for LGBT+ events or flags, in the case of Essex even dictating censorship of their local libraries,” he added.
“There’s a clear pattern of Reform councils seeking to erase LGBT+ from public spaces.
“Removing people’s visibility is often a first step to removing their voice and their civil rights.”
He said he would very much welcome Cllr Bocking and any other councillors join him in attending an LBGT+ pride event this pride month to show that homophobia/transphobia has no place in politics or the borough.