Dacorum Borough Council (DBC) has described rumours that it cancelled VE Day celebrations as “significant misinformation”.
The clarification from DBC followed national media coverage on Wednesday, April 9, which claimed DBC had scrapped plans to mark the anniversary of the end of the Second World War due to parades being for the “elite”.
The confusion came about when DBC councillor Caroline Smith-Wright encouraged residents to host street parties, saying it “encompasses everybody – it doesn’t just leave the elite and people to just, kind of, parade”.
This led Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy to reply on LBC radio, saying: “It’s ridiculous to say that VE Day is elitist.”
However, cllr Smith-Wright and DBC have since clarified the situation.
Cllr Smith-Wright said: “Some of my comments in a recent council meeting about VE Day have been taken completely out of context – and are now being used for political gain.”
DBC subsequently released this statement: “The council has not cancelled its VE Day commemoration event or rejected calls for military parades. VE Day belongs to all of us. We are absolutely committed to honouring the sacrifice of our Armed Forces and ensuring their memory lives on.
“We have long-standing commitments for VE Day and can confirm that we will be holding a joint commemorative event with the Royal British Legion on May 8 at Boxmoor War Memorial as planned.
“Over the last few weeks, we have encouraged communities across Dacorum to host street parties over the May bank holiday weekend.
“In addition to this, the council is delivering a celebratory Armed Forces Day event in June, a commemorative service for VJ Day in August and our annual Remembrance Parade on November 9 and Remembrance Day service on November 11.”
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