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  "path": "/2026/06/04/londons-reform-council-cancels-pride-flag-ceremony-28633976/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-04T06:00:00.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
  "tags": [
    "News",
    "UK",
    "LGBTQ+",
    "London",
    "Pride",
    "LGBTQ+ WhatsApp channel",
    "click on this link",
    "Green Party",
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    "Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source"
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  "textContent": "A Reform council cancelled Romford’s pride event for the first time in years (Picture: Keira Gomez )\n\nLondon’s only Reform council cancelled their Pride flag ceremony, leaving the borough ‘no longer feeling like home’ for their residents.\n\nHavering Council announced the event would not go ahead with just three days notice on Friday.\n\nThis is despite the flag ceremony happening every year at the start of Pride Month in June since 2016.\n\nCarrie Kendall, who has lived in the borough all of her life, said Havering ‘no longer feels like home’.\n\nShe said: ‘I always noticed when the pride flag went up as early as 2016 and it made me happy, because visibility is so important.\n\n‘Now I am worried the council’s actions will lead people to think homophobia is permissible.’\n\n## ‘There’s nothing inclusive about shoving that degeneracy down everyone’s throat’\n\nThe group were able to organise an impromptu celebration(Picture: Mark Whiley)\n\nAnd the online comments certainly prove this. One person described the flags as ‘divisive symbols’ which should not be flown.\n\n##  Join Metro's LGBTQ+ community on WhatsApp\n\nWith thousands of members from all over the world, our vibrant LGBTQ+ WhatsApp channel is a hub for all the latest news and important issues that face the LGBTQ+ community.\n\nSimply **click on this link** , select ‘Join Chat’ and you’re in! Don't forget to turn on notifications!\n\nAnother said ‘there’s nothing inclusive about shoving that degeneracy down everyone’s throat.’\n\nThe council’s decision came after the Reform Party instructed their councils to not fly any flags apart from the Union Jack or the St George’s Cross.\n\nCouncil Leader Keith Prince AM told Metro the only other flags they would be willing to fly are those which ‘recognise our heroes like the armed forces’.\n\nMembers of the LGBTQ+ in Havering were still able to rally round and organise their own impromptu event to mark the day.\n\nThis included people waving the flags as well as speeches and a picnic, which was helped organised by LGBTQ+ youth group Kaleidoscope, which Carrie founded.\n\n‘We can’t change their decision, but we can be more direct with our efforts,’ she said. ‘This is the worst I have seen homophobia in a long time, it all feels very uncertain.’\n\nMark Whiley, a life-long resident and leader of the Green Party in the area, agrees.\n\nHe said he suffered homophobic bullying in school, and has started experiencing it again over the last few years.\n\n‘I had some abuse thrown at me by some young people on a bus last year, which we is why we need to stand up and be visible,’ Mark said.\n\nCouncil Leader Prince AM said: ‘The Council Administration is updating policies in line with Reform UK national policies on flag flying which sets out that the only flags flown on public buildings are the Union Flag, the St. George’s Cross, and the Havering Council flag.\n\n‘The Union Flag represents our country and as such is inclusive of all our residents. The only other events we will be flying flags for will be to recognise our heroes like the armed forces and veterans who do so much for our country.’\n\n******Get in touch with our news team by emailing us atwebnews@metro.co.uk.******\n\n**For more stories like this,** check our news page.\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "London’s only Reform council cancels Pride flag ceremony"
}