Overview
- The council, which announced the policy on Thursday, said the Pride flag "will never be flown" outside City Hall and that the St George’s Cross and Union Jack will be displayed with the St George’s flag flown year-round.
- Cllr Ciera Hudspith, the culture, tourism and heritage portfolio holder, said flags on council buildings should represent the nation or wider community and must not reflect what she called a "sectional interest."
- Local groups WearProud and OUT North East condemned the decision, saying removing the Pride flag risks making LGBTQ+ people feel less seen and less safe and warning it could harm Sunderland’s reputation.
- The move follows a precedent set by a nearby Reform-controlled council in Durham in May 2025, which also removed its Pride flag and cut some Pride funding, prompting community fundraising to keep events running.
- Campaigners and charities say the decision could deter investors, partners and visitors who expect visible inclusion, and they warn it may push organisers to rely on private fundraising and grassroots activity to preserve local Pride events.