York's Conservative Council Group has condemned the ridiculous decision by Labour's City of York Council administration to exclude military vehicles from Armed Forces Day celebrations in the city.
This ludicrous decision runs counter to the aim of Armed Forces Day to not only recognise the contributions of our armed forces but also offer the public an opportunity to engage with them and learn more about what they do.
Fear of protest is said to be the reason for this decision. However York Conservatives believe this s no excuse to diminish celebrations for the brave men and women in our armed forces. Indeed there are apparently protests against the decision now planned on a far greater scale than Labour's left wing extremists would have managed.
The decision by the Labour administration was made behind closed doors (and against the advice of senior council staff), knowing that any scrutiny would lay bare the weakness of their position.
York has a proud military history going back hundreds of years. Throughout this period York has hosted armed forces personnel and military bases. There have also been annual Remembrance Parades, gun salute events and celebrations of regiments. Military equipment is crucial to all these events and a great way to highlight to young people in particular what great work the military do.
Commenting on the exclusion, Conservative Group Leader Cllr Steward said:
"Military equipment is not a big part of Armed Forces Day by volume, but it is a crucial part. What use is any military without equipment? We totally condemn this decision of the Labour councillors (there has been no cross party involvement).
"It shows how far the Labour Party has fallen from a proud, patriotic party which recognised the courageous and vital job our military do, to one more concerned how their actions may offend their increasingly extreme supporters who seem to want to protest against our long held values.
'I and York Conservatives stand 100% behind our military today, as we always have and always will'
