The Liberal Democrat-run Dacorum Borough Council has once again shown us exactly what happens when petty politics, cowardice, and “woke” ideology collide. In an act of national embarrassment, they have decided not to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day with a proper military parade, calling it “elitist.” Yes, elitist. The very idea of commemorating our Armed Forces, the triumph of good over evil, the sacrifice of millions to secure freedom in Europe — they’ve decided that’s somehow exclusionary.

It is hard to overstate how disgraceful this is. The only elitists here are the Lib Dems figuratively spitting in the face of those who gave their lives in the fight against tyranny. These elitists are denying ordinary people the chance to show their deep-seated respect for the perseverance of a generation. Their decision diminishes the pain and strength of a generation that endured bombs, rations, conscription, and unfathomable loss — all so that we might live freely. And this council can’t even muster the decency to put on a parade?

Instead, they offer up a flimsy, patronising alternative: street parties. Residents are told to organise their own tea-and-bunting celebrations, while the council quietly washes its hands of responsibility.

This isn’t inclusive ; it’s a dodge. It’s a spineless retreat from honouring our nation’s history.

As someone who has served two tours of duty in Afghanistan with the Royal Marines, I know all too well what it means to put your life on the line for your country. I have stood in the heat of battle, faced down life-threatening danger, and watched my comrades do the same. So I can tell you — with painful clarity — how bitter this insult will feel to our veterans.

This isn’t just political incompetence. It is a dangerously egregious act of disrespect to those who have already paid the highest price for the very freedom those councillors enjoy.

When councils like Dacorum brush aside VE Day with a shrug and a sneer, it sends a chilling message to every man and woman who has ever worn the uniform: your sacrifice no longer matters.

This shameful position was summed up perfectly by their attitude. The very forces they sneer at as “elite” are the reason they can even hold office in a democratic nation today. The Royal Marines, the British Army, the RAF — these are not relics of elitism. They are the embodiment of courage and the backbone of the free world.

And the hypocrisy doesn’t stop there. This is the same council that only recently threw itself a self-congratulatory parade to celebrate its own 50th anniversary. When it’s about themselves, the purse strings fly open.

When it’s about honouring the greatest generation — those who stood against fascism and won — the money vanishes and the excuses pour in. They claim to represent everyone, yet exclude the very people who sacrificed everything to preserve this nation. They want to foster unity, yet they reject the most unifying tradition we have — coming together as a country to remember and respect.

It's ideology over decency, spin over substance, cowardice over conviction. Let’s call this what it is: the creeping disease of national self-hatred. These are not the actions of leaders who love their country. These are the actions of people too timid to stand up for it. Too afraid of causing offence to honour those who faced bullets. Too obsessed with signalling moral superiority to express even basic gratitude to those who secured our freedom.

And what is their solution? Tell residents to plan their own gatherings and pay the price for road closures. Push the burden onto the public, while the council retreats into smug bureaucratic indifference. A few plastic flags and some finger sandwiches are no substitute for a dignified parade.

No substitute for standing shoulder to shoulder and saying: we remember.

This isn’t just a local embarrassment. It’s a warning sign. When councils like Dacorum choose silence over ceremony, dismissal over dignity, and shame over pride, we risk losing touch with the very values that make Britain great. Our history is not something to hide from — it’s something to be proud of.

Dacorum must reverse course — and not just grudgingly. They should hold the biggest parade in their borough’s history. They should lead from the front, not cower behind buzzwords and bureaucracy. They should show that, at least once, they are capable of honouring something bigger than themselves.

When a council is too ashamed to honour our heroes, it’s not progress — it’s betrayal. And if we can’t stand up for those who stood for us, what kind of country are we becoming?

Richard Thomson served as a Royal Marine for eight years and was the Reform UK general election candidate for Braintree in 2024