A Reform UK council has immediately stopped flying the Pride flag and axed its annual funding for local LGBTQ+ events following a full council meeting.

The newly elected Reform UK leadership in Gateshead has confirmed it will completely pull the local authority out of financing or publicising future Pride events.

Council leader Nick Allan told a full meeting on Thursday that the party has no problem with individual support, but argued the celebration of Pride is not a matter for the administration.

But opposition Labour, Liberal Democrat, and Green councillors staged a direct protest inside the chamber, wearing Pride colours and covering their benches in rainbow flags.

Historically, the local authority has provided around £12,500 every year to help stage the town’s events.

And the local LGBTQ+ charity OUT North East confirmed they did already receive the council funding for this year’s schedule prior to the announcement.

Even so, the charity’s chief executive Peter Darrant called the dynamic regrettable, warning the decision was made without any real understanding of the benefits the festival brings to the local economy and community.

Labour councillor Shaun Edge told colleagues that the move would leave local people feeling entirely on their own.

“The generations before me had to do that [fight] and I thought I was going to be fine, but I am going to have to fight myself to try and be heard and lead a life like the rest of my heterosexual compatriots across the room here,” he added.

The decision follows a similar pledge by Reform’s leadership in neighbouring Sunderland, who also promised they would never fly the Pride flag.