Darren Grimes ‘hurt’ by decision not to invite Reform to Durham Gala
Durham Miners’ Gala, hosted by the Durham Miners’ Association (DMA) since 1871, is a gathering of trade unionists and working-class people from around the country and was established in response to worsening working conditions in mines in the late 19th century.
But, those leading Durham County Council following May’s election will “never” be personally invited to the event, the DMA’s general secretary told LBC on Monday (May 19).
Now, Durham Reform group deputy leader Darren Grimes has said the call was “hurtful” as he blasted the group for “excluding” the politicians.
“As the grandson of a Durham miner, I’m disappointed to find myself unwelcome at an event that celebrates our region’s mining heritage,” Cllr Grimes told The Northern Echo.
“This exclusion feels not only personally hurtful but also concerning in my role as an elected representative for a community that recently showed strong support for Reform UK at the polls.
“The Miners’ Gala should be a celebration that unites our community across political divides rather than reinforcing them.”
“I wouldn’t share a platform with any of them. There’s no way, no way they’ll ever get an invite from Durham Miners’ Association”.
In a video on social media, Cllr Grimes hit back at the interview saying that it amounted to telling his community to ‘get stuffed’ and claimed people were being ‘banned from celebrating their own heritage’.
Accusing the DMA of acting in a ‘petty’ and ‘spiteful’ way, Cllr Grimes said: “No gatekeeper in a flat cap that is cosplaying Durham miners of the past is going to rewrite who counts as ‘working class’ here in Durham.
“No way, Jose.”
The Gala is a public event and nobody is disallowed from attending the parade or the event on the racecourse as a member of the public.
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As hosts, the DMA invites speakers and other individuals to sit on the platform.
Mr Mardghum was a miner between 1977 and 1993 and a bio on the DMA’s website states: “Following redundancy as a miner, he became a welfare benefits advice worker. He then served as a probation services officer for 12 years.”
Prior to the election, the organisation launched a scathing attack on Nigel Farage’s party, saying that despite Labour’s ‘disappointing’ stint in government, Reform were ‘not on the side’ of ex-mining communities.