'Wokest county in Britain!' Locals left furious as VE Day parade dubbed 'too elitist' and Christian prayers banned

It comes after St Albans District Council banned the inclusion of prayers before its meetings in fear they may "alienate individuals of different faiths."

The announcement, when combined with the decision by Hertfordshire Police to detain parents in January over a series of WhatsApp messages has led to it being dubbed the "wokest council in Britain."

Colonel Philip Ingram told MailOnline: "It's a strong contender for the wokest county in Britain. And the people behind these ludicrous decisions are up for the most pathetic individuals in the country as well.

"People have to wake up to what's really important in society: making sure people have the right housing and healthcare, and from a local council perspective that the bins are emptied and potholes are filled, rather than coming up with these pathetically stupid ideas."

When explaining why Dacorum wasn't going to have a VE Day Parade, Councillor Caroline Smith-Wright said: "We have decided at this point to enable communities to come together and have street parties.

"I think that is for the community, that is for everyone, that encompasses everybody – it doesn’t just leave the elite and people to just, kind of, parade. This is about normal people celebrating in their communities, bringing people together, sharing food, sitting at a table, celebrating and I think that’s a fine way to celebrate VE Day."

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Residents reacted with shock and horror to the decision. Debbie Ridgers, 69, said: "It's rubbish. Those men gave our lives for us. We should never forget that. And we should never be allowed to forget that. Otherwise history repeats itself."

Lana Templeton, 81, whose father served in the Royal Air Force, said: "The council has no right to do that. It's absolute nonsense. I lost my father in the war. He was in the Royal Air Force. And I never knew him. All I have left of him is the badge he wore. It's important to remember."

MailOnline reports a civil war seemingly erupted, with councillors blaming penny-pinching civil servants at the Liberal Democrat-run authority for scrubbing the event due to a lack of funds.

Meanwhile, party leader Sir Ed Davey has intervened, saying there would be a u-turn, telling reporters: "There will be a VE parade, I'm delighted to say.

"The council wants that. It would be daft not to have one, absolutely daft... I think apparently a council officer took a decision without talking to the politicians. The politicians are now really clear, the VE parade will go ahead."

It comes after WhatsApp messages shared in a school group chat that led to the arrest of a set of parents was revealed.

Maxie Allen and Rosalind Levine were arrested in front of their daughter and put in a cell for eight hours after they complained about their eldest child’s school in Hertfordshire.

Hertfordshire Constabulary later dropped the probe after concluded there was no case to answer, however, Allen told said: "It was hard to shake off the sense that I was living in a police state."

Levine added: "I felt like I was in a terrible nightmare...I did not know how it had come to this."

Meanwhile, Councillors on St Albans District Council voted 25-20 in favour of abolishing religious words before full council meetings back in January.

Liberal Democrat Councillor for Batchwood Sinéad Howland, said the inclusion of prayers before the meetings "may inadvertently exclude or alienate individuals of different faiths or those without religious beliefs.

"It's not about opposing faith, it'a about ensuring our meetings reflect the diversity of our community and uphold our commitment to the community."

Fellow Liberal Democrat Councillor Robert Donald described the decision as a "mistake", arguing it is not "compulsory."

The Cunningham councillor said: "Prayers bring member together cross-party in ways that few other events do. Many value this opportunity of corporate, spiritual reflection. To pray privately in a room is not the same."

A spokesman from Dacorum Borough Council said: "The Council has not cancelled its VE Day commemoration event or rejected calls for military parades as reported. VE Day belongs to all of us. We are absolutely committed to honouring the sacrifice of our armed forces and ensuring their memory lives on.

"The Council has a long and proud history of supporting commemorative events and our armed forces community.

"We have long-standing commitments for VE Day and can confirm that the Council will be holding a joint commemorative event with the Royal British Legion (RBL) on the 8th of May (VE Day) at Boxmoor War Memorial as planned, to honour and pay tribute to the Second World War generation from across the UK and Commonwealth.

"The commemorative event will be attended by the Lord-Lieutenant, who is His Majesty’s most senior representative in the county. This will include parade formalities at the War Memorial. Over the last several weeks, we have encouraged communities across Dacorum to host street parties over the May bank holiday weekend through free street closures from Hertfordshire County Council, with information available on our website VE Day street parties."