"Tell Reform UK to Show Racism the Red Card and sign my petition" says Sunderland MP
The Reform led council said the decision should “not be interpreted as the Council stepping back from its opposition to racism or discrimination”
Sunderland MP and Labour party chair Bridget Phillipson has urged people to sign her petition to “tell Reform UK to Show Racism the red Card”.
Mrs Phillipson has set up the petition on her Facebook page calling on the now Reform led Sunderland City council to reverse their decision to withdraw their support for the anti-racism charity.
The leader of Sunderland City Council, Cllr Chris Eynon, confirmed the decision during a Council meeting when he was asked by former Labour councillor Kelly Chequer whether the council would be supporting Show Racism the Red Card’s Wear Red Day on Friday, October 16, by lighting Sunderland’s landmarks red.
Cllr Eynon said the council would not be “linking up” with Show Racism the Red Card, including any financial support previous councils had provided for the charity’s education programme in city schools, due to what he cited as political bias against Reform by its CEO Ged Grebby and accusations the charity has political motives.
The decision was described by Sunderland AFC legend Gary Bennett as “a huge backward step” and slammed by city MPs including Mrs Phillipson, who set up the petition calling for the decision to be reversed on Monday.
Ms Phillipson said: “The Reform Council’s decision to pull support for an anti-racism charity is being exposed for what it is – petty politics with disastrous consequences, that doesn’t have the backing of the people of Sunderland.
“Local legends like Gary Bennett are speaking out against this cruel decision, because Sunderland will always stand against racism.
“While Sunderland’s Reform council double down on stopping long-standing support for Show Racism the Red Card, I won’t stop exposing it for the cruel and misguided decision it is. Sign my petition and tell Reform UK to Show Racism the Red Card.”
Cllr Eynon and the Reform led city council have defended the decision and stressed it “should not be interpreted as the council stepping back from its opposition to racism or discrimination”.
The council leader added: “The issue is specifically whether Sunderland City Council should maintain a formal association with, financially support and publicly endorse campaigns of a particular external organisation.
“Show Racism the Red Card has increasingly become involved in activity which goes beyond straightforward anti-racism education and enters the political arena.
“It’s particularly relevant when considering whether it’s appropriate for a local authority to continue formally associating itself with and financially supporting an organisation whose Chief Executive has made openly political comments about the party entrusted with leading that authority.
“There must be a clear distinction between the council unequivocally opposing racism and formally funding or endorsing one particular campaigning organisation that has entered into party politics.”
Mr Grebby refuted claims the charity has political motives.