Tory deputy chair: Pride march is ‘a bunch of puffs mincing across town’
The deputy chairman of a local Conservative branch has attacked a Pride parade as “a bunch of puffs mincing across Ashton”.
The row emerged when community charity Tameside 4 Good announced it had granted £1k in funding to Tameside & Oldham Gay Society, for the organisation of the town’s Pride march.
Liam Billington – who is the Deputy Chairman of Ashton-under-Lyne Conservatives – condemned the charity, tweeting: “Seriously? £1,000 on a ‘party’ Shouldn’t money be going on doing actual good like food banks, care for people in need etc?”
When Tameside 4 Good retorted that their grants help fund a number of initiatives, he responded: “And you thought a bunch of puffs mincing across Ashton would achieve that?”
@Tameside4Good And you thought a bunch of puffs mincing across Ashton would achieve that?
— Liam Billington (@liambillington) November 20, 2014
After soap star Antony Cotton retweeted the offensive statement, Mr Billington attempted to defend his comments.
He said: “I’m gay. No offence was meant. Tongue in cheek comment. Money should go to better causes than a pride event.”
Mr Billington, who stood for the Conservative party in council elections this year, has since removed the description from his profile identifying himself as the local party’s Deputy Chairman.
He did not reply to a request for comment.
