In the last year I have become very conscious of the work of the Political Parties and their tribalism in a new way due to my decision to stand in the election as Police and Crime Commissioner – my website is here. Previously although I have always voted in local and Parliamentary elections, usually for one particular party, I have seen the role of Political Parties as providing entertainment on Wednesday afternoons (PM questions) Thursday evenings (Question Time) and Friday evening (Any Questions) and as trying to improve the quality of life for all of us.

This year as I watched the Pride parade crawl along the London Road I became aware that the 4 Political Parties were treating this event in a different way to many of the other civic events they attend each year. At Armistice Day for example all of the parties sit together in their dark outfits, at Civic Church Services they sit together or near one another. At a National event such as Royal Weddings the Party Leaders sit together and give the impression of a dysfunctional family that really doesn’t get on, but for the sake of the children they will smile and go through the motions. We are told that behind the scenes at a National and Local level many of our political servants get on quite well.

Pride as I understand it is a chance to lay down a clear sign that we are committed to bringing a sense of equality and acceptance into our community. I recognise that there is a clear political dimension to Pride, but this is not about the Politics of Party difference. That is for another day. To emphasise our commitment to Pride is vital for all Parties, to use the day to stress our distrust of the other parties is not what the event is about. We should not go to someones social gathering and then use the occasion to gossip about people and plan how to do them down, that is just wrong and is an insult to the person whose event we are celebrating.

It may be that I am being selfish! If I am elected in November, where would I go. I could walk in amongst the crowd, I could join in with the Police Officers and Staff who I would have a responsibility for along with the Chief Constable. That would put me with the front of the parade and might be nice, but as a Police and Crime Commissioner my roles is much closer in role to the elected MPs and Councillors than it is to the professional Police staff and uniformed officers. This then leaves me with a dilemma as I am not a member of any of the 4 Political Parties.

My challenge to all of the Parties is to recognise that Pride is not their day, it is not a political gathering like those we see on TV as part of the American elections. It is a time to celebrate our togetherness. Gay or Lesbian, Transgender or Bi-Sexual, uncertain or Straight. Labour, Conservative, Green and Lib Dem. Don’t leave your T Shirts at home, but instead of wearing your T shirts in neatly delineated groups, mix it up. Demonstrate the fact that none of your ideas are uniquely yours, if our city is to develop it will depend on joint working, and creative ideas. Pride is not a day for doing business, it is not a day for displaying our political resistance, it is a day for showing that a political rainbow is part of the change that we all need to experience. It is a way of showing leadership!

One of the four Political Groupings walking in isolation!