Mayor of London Boris Johnson will miss Pride for a fifth year in a row
Mayor of London Boris Johnson has confirmed he will not attend this month’s Pride in London parade – missing out for a fifth year in a row.
Mr Johnson recently weighed after UKIP LGBT+ were denied permission to march in this year’s parade, ordering organisers to “sort it out”.
However, despite City Hall providing a significant grant to the event, the Mayor’s Office has confirmed that the Conservative politician will not attend this year, sending Deputy Mayor Stephen Greenhalgh in his place.
Mr Johnson last attended the Pride march in 2010 – missing it for the past four years consecutively, in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.
The Mayor’s spokesperson told PinkNews: “The Mayor is not due to attend this year, but Deputy Mayor Stephen Greenhalgh will be representing him at the event.”
Mr Johnson has previously cited his busy schedule in the past as his reason for not attending – and is unlikely to have extra time on his hands now he is also an MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip.
The Mayor last attended the Pride Parade in 2010, where he announced his support for equal marriage in an interview with PinkNews.
At the time Mr Johnson said: “If we can have a coalition between Tories and Lib Dems, why can’t we have gay marriage?”
Campaigner Peter Tatchell responded: “There you are – the mayor supports gay marriage”.
He has not attended the event since.
In New York, Mayor Bill De Blasio attends the event every year – even serving as Grand Marshall at Brooklyn Pride last year.
