LAST Saturday, for I think the fifth consecutive year, I attended York Pride.

Every year the event gets bigger and better and it was superb to see so many people there, no doubt inspired in part to combat the hate we have seen in recent days in this country and overseas.

The day is great fun but has such a key message and I salute the organisers.

This year as every year the Labour Party were giving out their “Never kissed a Tory” stickers.

Kissing is, to my knowledge, not restricted to LGBT people and the Labour Party are demonstrably only using these as a nasty dividing tactic, all the worse as it is at an event all should unite at.

We must disagree on policy but not hate each other, there is a key but simple difference. For example former Labour councillor Howard Perry wrote in The Press claiming to wish me well recovering from illness but said if I got back he would “resume attacking me”, not my policies or views.

When canvassing I am always surprised and impressed how many couples vote differently, sometimes they don’t even know it.

Maybe next year the Labour Party will have grown out of this hate and division?

What binds us together should be so much greater than what drives up apart.

Cllr Chris Steward, Rural West York ward