Equalities funding cut moves forward despite protest in Warwickshire

The Reform UK-led Warwickshire County Council will move ahead with plans to cut its funding to the Equality & Inclusion Partnership (EQUIP) after a public meeting on Friday 22nd May. The news comes after Warwickshire Pride, alongside others from across the equalities sector locally and councillors from other political parties, united in a protest against the funding cuts outside the council building, Shire Hall.

An 8-week public consultation is set to open in June 2026

The charity EQUIP is currently funded to provide discrimination and hate crime support, equalities training, and guidance through community and faith groups, businesses, schools and the public sector. The council's £135,372-per-year contribution reportedly makes up more than 60% of the organisation’s annual income. The current contract withe the council for this service ends on 31 March 2027.

Speaking ahead of the protest, Warwickshire Pride organisers said: “This is Reform's latest attack on equalities as they push forward with their agenda to stop all equalities work at Warwickshire County Council.”

The council meeting agenda for Friday 22nd May discussed the decision to consult on the proposed decommissioning of these Equalities Service. A discussion that resulted in portfolio holder resources and internal affairs Councillor Mike Bannister (Reform UK, Nuneaton Abbey) signing off the start of a public consultation.

Warwickshire Pride chair, Dan Browne, who also serves as an independent councillor on Warwick District Council (Aylesford Ward), argued that this step was “not the start of the Reform administration’s assault on minority communities”. Browne referred to several previous “assaults” including leader Councillor George Finch’s request to remove the Pride flag from outside Shire Hall, and his public comments about Warwickshire Pride “not being a priority for funding support”.

Councillor Tracey Drew (Green, Kenilworth Park Hill) described the proposal to cut funding for EQUIP as “staggeringly breath-taking”, suggesting that it could cause “immeasurable” damage to the council’s reputation. Concerns were also raised during the meeting regarding how the authority would continue to meet its legal duties in equality if the service is unable to survive the funding cuts.

Cllr Drew added: “Equality and diversity are so fundamental to professional attitudes, behaviour and practice.

“With due respect, and with experience as a resident as well as a councillor, Warwickshire County Council needs to continue and enhance its learning.

“The mind boggles as to how far in the opposite direction this proposed change could take us.

“The consultation risks casting Warwickshire County Council and its work into a dark, regressive, underdeveloped and unprofessional light.”