Sunderland City Council, under Reform UK leadership, has withdrawn its 30-year support for the charity Show Racism the Red Card. This decision will lead to the scrapping of anti-racism education in some schools.
Christopher Eynon, the Reform leader of Sunderland city council, announced the decision last week, stating the council would no longer support "politically charged organisations with an agenda."
Gary Bennett, the charity's head coach and former Sunderland AFC captain, expressed his shock and disappointment at the withdrawal of funding. He said the charity is not political and that Sunderland was the first council to support them.
Mr Bennett stated that the move would immediately affect the charity's ability to educate local children in schools and conduct workshops in prisons and workplaces. He also referenced racist riots in English cities, including Sunderland, in 2024, highlighting ongoing issues with attitudes towards asylum seekers and migrants.
Mr Eynon, whose party gained control of the council in May, maintained that the authority is not "stepping back from its opposition to racism or discrimination" and that "racism has no place in Sunderland."
Separately, Reform UK councillors in Bradford have proposed to withdraw from the Local Authority of Sanctuary scheme, which aims to show a city is safe for migrant communities. The Reform group stated a motion would be put forward at the next meeting in October to end the status, arguing public services should be prioritised for Bradford residents.