by Rebecca Belbin

PRO-EU campaigners were left “intimidated” and “silenced” after flags of the European Union were banned from the Bourne Free pride parade.

Organisers of the Bournemouth event, which took place last Saturday, put a blanket ban on political statements.

However pro-EU campaigners continued to march with their flags, until they were approached and stopped by a Bourne Free steward at the Triangle, the parade’s end.

One EU marcher, who was told to leave the parade due to the waving and display of the EU flag, said she was given a “right telling off”.

She said: “We were celebrating the EU Fundamental Charter of Human Rights. This wasn’t about Brexit.

“We had amazing support from members of the public so we decided to walk on the pavement. We kept things light but despite amazing support we were told to ‘remove ourselves immediately’.

“We felt intimidated.”

Toby Johnson, a law student at Bournemouth University, was also told to take down EU flags at the parade.

“We were very angry that we’d been stopped from entering the final stages of an event designed to promote inclusiveness, support and unity, when all we’d been doing was reminding people that the EU supports and promotes all the values behind a Pride parade," he said.

However, Bournemouth councillor David Kelsey, who was at the parade, said organisers had dealt with the situation "very well".

“Bourne Free has never been about politics," he said.

A Bourne Free parade organiser said he tried his best to “be helpful” and said groups in the parade had been told in advance that flags and banners representing political organisations would not be allowed.

“Bourne Free is there to celebrate diversity in our community, not to politicise,” he said.

“We are not anti-EU, nor pro-EU, and the EU flag has always been political.

“I tried my best to be helpful and we will always accept peaceful protests on the march, as long as they are not political.”

“I tried to warn them as best I could.”

The Bourne Free event was Bournemouth’s biggest ever parade, with at least 500 people taking part in the march.

It was established in 2004 to defend and promote the local LGBTQ+ community in the face of homophobia. This year, the theme was Hawaiian beach party and acts including Courtney Act, Michelle Heaton and Sam Callahan all performed.