The boss of London’s annual Gay Pride celebration has quit after organisers axed key events at the last minute, it emerged today.
Pride London chairman Patrick Williams resigned after the event on Saturday, which attracts one million people, was drastically scaled back because of a cash crisis.
Gay campaigner Peter Tatchell warned that it risked descending into “mayhem” and called on City Hall to provide emergency funding. He claimed the West End would be jammed as tens of thousands of revellers would be unaware of a police order to start the procession two hours early at 11am.
Mr Tatchell, who helped organise London’s first Gay Pride march, said: “Many will be left wandering the streets.” The centrepiece parade with float displays is being replaced by a smaller procession without vehicles. The march will wind its way to Trafalgar Square, where a scaled-back party will be staged and the traditional Soho street party has been scrapped.
Pride London has offered “sincerest apologies” for last-minute changes to the event, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this weekend.
The cutbacks have triggered resentment among London’s gay community, with calls for the Pride London board to resign. Jeremy Jones, boss of G-A-Y nightclub, said: “The capital should be hosting the best Pride. Instead, it will be hosting the worst.”
A City Hall spokesman said: “We have already financed Pride to the tune of £100,000 and it is too late to raise additional funds.”
