Pride Month celebrations removed from Staffordshire libraries under Reform leadership

Reform UK-led Staffordshire County Council say libraries under its jurisdiction will no longer feature Pride displays or host any pride-related activities reflecting a new 2026-2028 Libraries Strategy. The authority has described the decision as a “consistent approach” across library networks after they were criticised for removing Pride book displays during June’s Pride Month. The council have reiterated that no LGBTQ+ books have been removed as part of this new move, however the decision has been heavily criticised by MPs and LGBTQ+ organisers alike.

Pride Month takes place in June in the UK and across many other countries

Nine Staffordshire MPs – Jacob Collier (Burton and Uttoxeter), Sarah Edwards (Tamworth), Dr Allison Gardner (Stoke-on-Trent South), Leigh Ingham (Stafford, Eccleshall, and the villages), Adam Jogee (Newcastle-under-Lyme), Josh Newbury (Cannock Chase), Dave Robertson (Lichfield, Burntwood, and the villages), and David Williams (Stoke-on-Trent North and Kidsgrove) – have signed a cross-party letter calling for the decision to be reversed.

The letter, addressed to the council’s leader, Reform UK’s Cllr Martin Murray states: “We are writing about the worrying reports of a county-wide directive ordering the removal of all LGBTQ+ Pride-related displays from Staffordshire's libraries, the cancellation of all associated activities, and the removal of any mention of Pride from library social media channels. If this is the case, we are calling for you to immediately reverse this harmful decision and reinstate Pride month displays and activities across Staffordshire's library network.

“Public libraries are a valued source of information, education, and community. Taking down displays would send a clear and harmful message to LGBTQ+ library users and staff; that their stories and community do not deserve to be celebrated - or even acknowledged - in public spaces.

The letter asks the leader of the council to confirm: “The full nature of any directive issued If a directive was issued, how you assessed the impact it would have on LGBTQ+ residents, Whether Staffordshire County Council has any plans to remove LGBTQ+ related books from library shelves, and your position on displays for other celebratory months, such as Black History Month.”

The news in Staffordshire comes after several Reform UK-led councils across the country have cut funding for Pride activities, removed Pride flags from council buildings, and tried to remove LGBTQ+ materials from public libraries; among other actions seemingly targeted at various minority groups and protected characteristics.

The Reform UK-led administration says its new Staffordshire Libraries Strategy 2026-2028 will focus on “core library services” and will no longer use taxpayer-funded resources, buildings or communications channels to promote any particular group, cause or identity.

Responding to the cross-party letter, Cllr Murray stated: “No books have been removed from your library shelves. No authors have been pulled from the catalogue. No titles have been placed off-limits. Every resident of this county can still walk into their library, borrow what they want, reserve what they want, request what they want — exactly as before.”

Stafford Pride’s Chairman, Jack Taylor-Walker, who was among those to raise concerns, however, drew parallels to Section 28, which similarly prohibited the ‘promotion of’ homosexuality.

In a letter to Cllr Murray, Taylor-Walker writes: “It is no longer the approach for Stafford Pride to tip toe around issues when it comes to the abhorrent and frankly vile behaviour that the administration of Staffordshire County Council has shown in the past and continues to this day show to the LGBTQ+ Community in Stafford.

“The decision to remove all LGBTQ+ displays, books, activities and mention of Pride at all as a wide spread ban goes as far as Section 28 back in 1988; I need not remind you, this we repealed by Government in 2003; for good reason because it simply serves as a stab in the heart to every member of our community. The LGBTQ+ community has fought for years for the rights of the community and we will not stop.

“It is, therefore, without further delay you must overturn this vile decision and apologise to not only our community but your Library Staff & Volunteers.

“When it comes to removing specific literature, books etc focusing on a single group of people it is known as one thing; censorship, a dangerous precedent to set for an administration.”