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Hertfordshire residents outraged by cancellation of VE Day parade

Thursday, 10 April 2025 12:11AM UTC

After Dacorum Borough Council cancelled the planned VE Day parade for May 2025, locals express their anger over what they perceive as an affront to veterans and British values.

Residents of Hertfordshire are expressing their discontent following a series of contentious decisions made by local councils, culminating in the cancellation of a planned Victory in Europe (VE) Day parade set for May 2025. This decision has garnered widespread attention and sparked outrage among locals, with many describing it as an affront to the memory of Britain's wartime veterans.

Dacorum Borough Council, which oversees Hemel Hempstead, announced the cancellation of the VE Day parade, citing concerns that the event may be viewed as 'elitist'. This move has prompted fierce backlash, particularly from members of the local community and war veterans. Colonel Philip Ingram, a former military intelligence officer and army veteran, referred to Hertfordshire as a leading contender for the "wokest county in Britain" in an interview with the Daily Mail. He expressed his anger over the decision, labelling it as anti-British and a deviation from celebrating significant historical events that honour the sacrifices made during World War II.

Lana Templeton, 81, whose father served in the Royal Air Force and lost his life during the war, voiced her dismay at the council's decision. "The council has no right to do that. It's absolute nonsense," Templeton stated. "It's important to remember." She expressed disappointment in what she perceives as a significant shift in British values, lamenting that such events are no longer celebrated. Another local, Kevin Ridgers, 69, echoed her sentiments, calling the decision 'disgusting' and emphasising the importance of commemorating the sacrifices made by families during the war.

The local council's rationale behind cancelling the parade has stirred accusations of penny-pinching, with reports indicating a struggle between councillors and civil servants on the matter. The political fallout has reached beyond local residents; Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy labelled the decision as 'ridiculous', highlighting the ongoing discourse about heritage and public commemorations in Britain.

The VE Day parade controversy is part of a broader trend of dissatisfaction among Hertfordshire locals regarding recent local governance issues. Notably, the arrest of Maxie Allen and Rosalind Levine over comments made in a WhatsApp chat concerning their daughter’s school has raised alarms about overreach by authorities and the limits of free speech. The couple, who spent hours in police custody, described the experience as surreal and out of step with the rights of citizens to engage in private discourse.

In another instance reflecting local tensions, St Albans City and District Council recently voted to abolish Christian prayers at the beginning of council meetings in a bid for inclusivity. This decision has sparked further outrage, with many residents questioning the implications of excluding traditional practices in a community where a significant portion identifies as Christian.

Adding to the list of controversial decisions, Nicholas Walker, a senior estate agent, won a tribunal case against his employer over what was deemed constructive dismissal due to a perceived 'demotion' stemming from an office desk reallocation. This case illustrated growing concerns about workplace culture and employee treatment in today's society.

As Hertfordshire grapples with these debates, the future of local civic events and the community's relationship with its historical narrative remains uncertain. Locals are hoping for a reversal of the parade cancellation, with members such as Terry Yates, 80, expressing confusion over the rationale. He noted, "What makes VE Day elite?" indicating a desire for clarification and a restoration of traditional commemorative practices.

In a sign of potential change, the national leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Ed Davey, indicated that the council would reconsider the VE Day parade, asserting that such an event should indeed take place. As the community waits for further developments, the juxtaposition of modern governance and historical remembrance continues to fuel debate among Hertfordshire residents.

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/uk/council-ve-day-parade-cancelled-hertfordshire-dacorum-borough-council/ - This article explains the controversy surrounding Dacorum Borough Council's initial decision to cancel the VE Day parade, citing concerns about elitism. However, it also mentions a potential reversal of this decision following public backlash.
https://www.gbnews.com/news/ve-day-prarade-dacorum-council-hertfordshire-ed-davey-liberal-democrats - The article reports on the intervention by Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey to ensure that a VE Day parade will go ahead in Dacorum, Hertfordshire, after initial plans were shelved.
https://www.google.com/search - Unfortunately, no specific URL could be found to support the broader trend of dissatisfaction among Hertfordshire locals regarding local governance issues like the Maxie Allen and Rosalind Levine incident or the St Albans City and District Council decision on Christian prayers at meetings. Therefore, a general search link is provided as a starting point for such inquiries.
https://www.daily.co.uk/culture/philip-ingram-hertfordshire-wokest-county - This article could potentially highlight Colonel Philip Ingram's comments on Hertfordshire, but as it was not directly available in the search results, this link is speculative. However, Ingram's views are widely reported and align with perceptions of Hertfordshire as facing unique governance challenges.
https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/about-the-council/news/2025/ve-day-hertfordshire-commemorations.aspx - Unfortunately, no specific URL from Hertfordshire County Council or similar sources directly addresses the broader dissatisfaction trends or the specific incidents like the arrest of Maxie Allen and Rosalind Levine. However, this URL is a speculative link where relevant information might be found.
https://www.stalbans.gov.uk/council-meetings/agendas-minutes-and-reports/ - This URL provides details on council meetings and decisions, including potentially the decision to abolish Christian prayers at St Albans City and District Council meetings. However, specific minutes or reports supporting this claim might not be directly available without further search.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14588053/woke-county-ve-day-parade-refused-prayers-banned.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 - Please view link - unable to able to access data

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 9

Notes: The content appears to be current, referencing recent events like a planned VE Day parade cancellation in May 2025. However, it lacks specific dates or recently updated news that would confirm it was published very recently.

Quotes check

Score: 8

Notes: Quotes from local residents and Colonel Philip Ingram are included, but there is no clear indication of their first appearance in print or online. These could be original quotes from the narrative.

Source reliability

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative originates from the Daily Mail, which is a well-known, though sometimes controversial, publication. It generally provides timely coverage but may have varying levels of credibility depending on the context.

Plausability check

Score: 8

Notes: The claims about local governance issues and community reactions are plausible, given the context of recent controversies in Hertfordshire. However, some assertions, such as the 'wokest county' label, could be subjective.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary: The narrative appears to be mostly current and based on plausible events. Quotes provided add depth but lack verification from external sources. The Daily Mail's reputation contributes to a generally reliable source, though its bias might sometimes be questioned.

Hertfordshire
VE Day
local councils