The comments made by Kate Osborne, the Labour MP for Jarrow and Gateshead East, on 7 June 2026.
Overnight, Pride in Hebburn banners were torn down and damaged – less than 24 hours after volunteers had put them up. Volunteers trying to repair the damage were then subjected to abuse, which is absolutely disgraceful.
At a time when Reform leaderships in South Tyneside, Gateshead, Sunderland and Durham have shown indifference, and in some cases disdain, towards Pride, this shows exactly why it matters so much.
I have already written to Cllr Paul Mackings expressing my disappointment at the decision to remove the Pride flag after just one day.
Let’s be clear the financial contributions to Prides from Council is minimal – but the signal this rhetoric sends is that the LGBT+ community are not welcome.
This hate will not win.
To every LGBT+ person who has seen this and felt unsafe or unwelcome: you are not alone, our community stands with you, and the majority stand with you.