A Tewkesbury Borough Council leader has ignited controversy after suggesting that former school bullies who exhibited homophobic behaviour have grown up to become Reform UK councillors. The comments, made by Liberal Democrat Richard Stanley in an online video, have drawn sharp criticism from Reform UK.
In the video, Stanley justified the council’s decision to keep the Pride flag flying outside its offices. He shared his own experiences of enduring homophobic abuse as a child and questioned the fate of those who had bullied him.
“What happened to those kids? If you look at the comments section you will get a good idea,” Stanley 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.”
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He reaffirmed Tewkesbury’s commitment to displaying the Pride flag, stating: “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 swiftly rebuked Stanley’s remarks, accusing him of unfairly painting their councillors as homophobic based on generalized social media comments and national political trends. They also highlighted that Graham Bocking is the sole Reform UK councillor in Tewkesbury, noting that Stanley’s statements unfairly impugn Bocking’s character and public service.
Councillor Bocking expressed his disappointment: “I am deeply disappointed that Cllr Stanley has chosen to use his platform to take cheap political shots at another party. Some might mistakenly believe from his video that I hold homophobic views. I want to state categorically to all residents: I do not, I never have, and I never will.”
He emphasized his commitment to serving all constituents equally and with respect, rejecting any suggestion that he discriminates based on labels or identity.
A Reform UK spokesperson underscored the party’s inclusivity, stating they proudly welcome members from all ethnicities, backgrounds, sexualities, and genders. They praised Cllr Bocking’s impeccable record and criticized the Liberal Democrat leadership for importing divisive national identity politics instead of focusing on local community issues.
In response, Cllr Stanley defended his remarks as a call to support the LGBT+ community and highlight the pattern of Reform-led councils withdrawing backing for Pride events and removing Pride flags. He named councils in Barnsley, Havering, Sunderland, Gateshead, and Essex as examples.
“There’s a clear pattern of Reform councils seeking to erase LGBT+ from public spaces,” Stanley said. “Removing people’s visibility is often a first step to removing their voice and their civil rights.”
Stanley invited Cllr Bocking and other councillors to join him in attending a Pride event this month, emphasizing that homophobia and transphobia have no place in local politics or the borough.