Labour council criticised after banning navy tools from Armed Forces Day celebrations | EUROtoday

A council has been criticised for banning navy tools from its annual Armed Forces Day celebrations, citing residents’ issues about deliberate protests.

Labour-controlled City of York council made the choice to ban the tools over fears that the Peace Pledge Union (PPU), a pacifist organisation, and ForcesWatch, which is dedicated to “demilitarising the future”, mentioned they might maintain protests within the metropolis this weekend.

York marked Armed Forces Day on Saturday, following the official nationwide commemorations final week, however metropolis authorities banned tools starting from weapons to autos from the parade by native navy teams and establishments.

The metropolis as an alternative launched a “brand new Armed Forces Day trail”, a self-guided tour of its key navy websites with a map and guidebook.

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“With our military partners, we carefully considered residents’ concerns and decided that the day will go ahead as planned, with the only change being no military equipment on show,” defined council chief Claire Douglas.

“This decision in no way diminishes how seriously we take Armed Forces Day and our deep respect and commitment to those who serve and have served. We look forward to a fantastic day.”

While Ms Douglas didn’t affirm what the residents’ issues in query had been, one soldier who lives within the area informed the UK Defence Journal it was over “fears it would spark protest”.

“It’s frustrating, especially when Armed Forces Day is meant to be a chance for the public to see what we do and engage with us directly,” the soldier mentioned, including that it was a “ban by any other name”.

But the PPU argues that Armed Forces Day occasions give kids a “simplistic image of armed force as glamorous and fun” and assist to gas the rise of “militarism in everyday life in the UK”.

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Over the years, protest teams have usually staged protests throughout Britain on the day of navy celebrations. But the variety of occasions being held on the day throughout the nation has dwindled over time.

ForcesWatch and PPU recorded a report variety of demonstrations on the nationwide Armed Forces Day final weekend, claiming that protests had tripled in comparison with final yr, going down in additional than 50 places.

Chris Steward, chief of the conservative group of councillors in York, mentioned navy tools was a “crucial part” of the day. He informed The Telegraph:

“What use is any military without equipment? We totally condemn this decision of the Labour councillors. There has been no cross-party involvement,” he mentioned.

Mr Steward accused the Labour occasion of falling from a “proud, patriotic party” to 1 which is “more concerned how their actions may offend their increasingly extreme supporters”.