Stafford Pride commence legal action against Reform UK-led Council

Stafford Pride organisers have announced, in a statement on social media, that they have commenced legal action against the Reform UK-led Staffordshire County Council. The move comes after the CIC’s Community Grant payments were failed to be issued.

Stafford Pride has taken place annually since 2024

In their first statement, dated 20^th January, organisers explained that, last July, Stafford Pride had applied for a small community grant from two councillors in Stafford; Green Party Cllr Jack Rose and Conservative Cllr Ann Edgeller. The grant was reportedly agreed by the councillors, and the application progressed correctly.

As of January 2026, though, Stafford Pride report that grants to all the other successful applicants to the Community Grant have been paid by Staffordshire County Council but Pride has yet to receive any funding.

The statement adds: "[Staffordshire County Council] are refusing an honest answer and continually stating it is with the Reform UK Cabinet Member for approval; since July!

“Cllr Rose and Edgeller have been fabulous and we thank them for their continued support; but this is simple and vile homophobia from the council.

"We have passed this matter to the monitoring officer and will now be seeking legal advice to progress this matter as it is clear discrimination.

Reform UK-led Staffordshire County Council have now become institutionally homophobic. We will never allow this to happen. We will always stand with you. Stafford is a loving town, and love will always win!”

In a further statement, issued 27^th January, the organisers of Stafford Pride announced that legal action had been commenced. The legal action, they confirmed would not cost the CIC, and all money will continue to fund Stafford Pride in 2026.

They wrote: “Today as an organisation and supported by the generosity of a high-profile lawyer, we have commenced legal proceedings against Staffordshire County Council.

“This is not and has never been about the money, that was kindly allocated to us by the two councillors, this is about standing up: standing defiant against homophobia, standing up to hate, [and] standing side by side with our community.”