Grandfathers ousted as Santas for their political beliefs
- Paul Cleary and Paul Durant were both removed from their roles as Santas due to political social media posts.
- Cleary, specifically, was told his anti-Labour comments upset festival organizers, many of whom were Labour Party members.
- Both men expressed disappointment, arguing that their political beliefs should not affect their charitable work.
In recent weeks, two grandfathers in the UK were dismissed from their volunteer roles as Santas due to their political affiliations. Paul Cleary, 71, from Wath upon Dearne, faced backlash for his social media posts deemed anti-Labour. His posts, which included a video that altered a popular sitcom clip, were perceived as inappropriate by the charity organizing the Wath Christmas Festival, resulting in his removal. Moreover, he was advised against using funds raised under the Santa role to support the local food bank, despite the food bank's stated needs for donations. Similarly, Paul Durant, 78, from Blackpool, was ousted after sharing views about Labour possibly cancelling Christmas, which upset many within the organizing group that largely consisted of Labour Party members. Both men expressed disappointment with their dismissals, feeling that their political beliefs should not interfere with their volunteer efforts. Cleary plans to support another charity moving forward, while Durant emphasized that he intended to help his local community through his role, which he claimed had nothing to do with politics. The situations of both men have raised discussions about the intersection of volunteerism and political beliefs in community organizations, reflecting broader societal tensions regarding political discourse and community service, particularly during the holiday season. The actions taken by the organizations have sparked conversations about inclusiveness and the appropriateness of political expression in volunteer settings.