Reform UK-led council ends support for Show Racism the Red Card

Charity’s head coach ‘shocked’ after Sunderland council leader says it will not support ‘politically charged’ groups

Anti-racism education in some schools will be scrapped after a city council now led by Reform UK ended its 30-year support for the charity Show Racism the Red Card.

Announcing the decision last week, the Reform leader of Sunderland city council, Christopher Eynon, said it would no longer support “politically charged organisations with an agenda”.

Gary Bennett, the former Sunderland AFC captain and the charity’s head coach, said he was “shocked and disappointed” that Nigel Farage’s party had withdrawn vital funding.

The move prompted a furious backlash from opposition politicians including Labour’s Bridget Phillipson, who described it on Tuesday as “misguided, cruel and in no way backed by the people of Sunderland”.