Reform UK-led Staffordshire County Council’s draft library policy will face scrutiny on Thursday 22 October, following controversy over its decision to stop promoting Pride events in public libraries.
Published on 14 October, the policy stipulates how library displays and activities should be selected. The Cabinet is expected to make a final decision on 18 November.
The controversy began in June, when council leader Martin Murray, of Reform UK, announced that Pride events would no longer be promoted in libraries.
Murray said libraries “belong to everyone in Staffordshire equally” and should not “promote or privilege particular groups, causes or identities”. He insisted the approach would apply consistently to “every group and every cause”, adding that no books had been removed and lawful causes could still be organised by individuals and community groups.
However, the draft policy, Reform UK’s previous actions and Murray’s own comments have raised questions about how the council is distinguishing between political campaigning, community information and educational displays. With claims of hypocrisy being put forward and supported by Staffordshire Party leaders across the political spectrum.
Which causes make the schedule?
The draft annual programme includes Christmas, Remembrance, Armed Forces Day, St George’s Day, World Book Day and the White Ribbon campaign against violence against women and girls.
Pride Month, LGBTQ+ History Month, Black History Month and Disability History Month are omitted.
Critics have questioned the consistency of the Reform UK-led council’s approach, arguing it has created its own list of acceptable commemorations. Where St George’s Day is explicitly recognised despite being neither a bank holiday nor a state commemoration, while Pride Month, LGBTQ+ History Month, Black History Month and Disability History Month are omitted.
They have also raised questions as to why the White Ribbon campaign against violence against women and girls is included when the policy says libraries must not promote particular causes.
Liberal Democrat councillor Hugh Ashton questioned, based on Murray’s claims of equal treatment of communities, whether that principle could also rule out displays for Christmas, Easter, International Women’s Day and Remembrance.
The council says the policy will keep libraries focused on core services, including literacy, health and employment. Critics have questioned why some commemorations qualify for routine inclusion while others do not.
However, the council says libraries can still request displays outside the annual schedule, which would be assessed individually. But Murray has explicitly said “Pride events will no longer be promoted in our public libraries.” creating further confusion and controversy.
Questions over political neutrality
The controversy has also involved Reform UK’s political activity in library spaces. Although the council’s proposal states that material displayed on site should not be “branded or promoted politically”, councillor surgeries have been permitted in libraries.
In August, Stafford Borough councillor Alec Sandiford questioned why councillor surgeries could take place while Pride displays were restricted. The council responded that surgeries were permitted, but “any material on site should not be branded or promoted politically”.
In a statement published on 22 June, the Lichfield Liberal Democrats made a separate allegation concerning then-Reform UK councillor Matthew Wallens. They claimed that a poster advertising his residents’ surgery at Lichfield Library featured his party affiliation and emblem, despite the proposed restrictions on political branding. The party also alleged that another political party had been told not to use party branding at a different Staffordshire library.
The statement did not identify the other party or library, and the allegation has not been independently verified. The claims have still raised questions about whether the council’s policy is being applied consistently.
Cross-party opposition
The restrictions have drawn criticism from Liberal Democrat and Green Party politicians and LGBTQ+ organisations.
At Lichfield District Council, Liberal Democrat councillor Hugh Ashton proposed a motion, seconded by Conservative councillor Richard Cox, which “deplores the actions of the Reform UK-led Staffordshire County Council in banning displays relating to and materials promoting Pride month in SCC-owned and managed facilities, including public libraries”.
Cllr Richard Cox also mentioned, although the council said no books were being removed, he described the decision as a “slippery slope”, according to reports of the debate.
The motion passed without votes against, with one abstention by Matthew Wallens, then the sole Reform UK district councillor (also the leader mentioned in the library politicisation row). The vote did not change county policy but demonstrated large opposition amongst multiple parties in Staffordshire.
Rainbow Connections also launched a petition calling for the restrictions to be reversed. Cabinet member Hayley Coles acknowledged that some stakeholders supported focusing on core library services, while others feared groups could feel excluded. She said: “Staffordshire Libraries are for everyone.”
Consultation and next steps
The scrutiny papers list no formal consultees and identify a risk that community groups could feel excluded.
The committee will examine the draft on 22 October, ahead of an expected Cabinet decision on 18 November.
Read the draft policy and supporting papers.
