Julie Bindel, a women’s rights campaigner and journalist, was ejected from Pride in Surrey after she said she began asking the local Member of Parliament about the festival’s jailed co‑founder, according to video and her account to a national newspaper.

Bindel posted a clip on the platform X showing security officers approaching her and her producer and asking them to leave. She told the Daily Mail that she had been speaking to Liberal Democrat MP Zoe Franklin about Stephen Ireland when Franklin went to speak with event officials and security moved in.

The dispute centres on Ireland, a co‑founder of Pride in Surrey who was jailed in July for 24 years after being convicted of raping a 12‑year‑old boy. A volunteer at the event, David Sutton, was sentenced to four and a half years for his role in the case. Bindel said she was at Stoke Park in Guildford recording for a podcast about the organisation when she questioned Franklin about Ireland and raised concerns about safeguarding.

Bindel said Franklin initially answered questions but then "panicked" and asked for Bindel’s contact details before approaching event staff. "Within 30 seconds security were flanking me and [my producer] Sam," Bindel told the Daily Mail, adding that officials said organisers did not want her there because her questions were "making people uncomfortable." Bindel said she had paid for a ticket and that she had earlier interviewed the mayor of Guildford, who she said was willing to answer questions.

The treatment of Bindel was criticised by Labour MP Rosie Duffield, who offered support to the journalist, according to the same report. Bindel said she has contacted lawyers about a possible case against Pride in Surrey and questioned whether her ejection was related to her gender, sexual orientation or gender‑critical views.

Pride in Surrey released a statement after the convictions in July describing the defendants' actions as "utterly appalling" and saying Surrey Police had "made it explicitly clear that there are no concerns with our organisation's structure, people, or safeguarding policies." Surrey Police’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Lisa Townsend, later said the force "just aren’t in a position to take a view like that on a third party organisation of any kind."

Earlier this year Surrey County Council withdrew its official support for Pride in Surrey, saying it did not believe the event to be "truly representative" of the whole LGBTQ+ community after concerns were raised. Terence Herbert, chief executive of Surrey County Council, said the decision followed concerns about the organisation. Charlie Watts, chief executive of Surrey Pride, said the council's reasoning was "confusing."

Ireland co‑founded Pride in Surrey in 2018. Court prosecutors said the 12‑year‑old boy had met Ireland after messaging him on the dating app Grindr and was lured to a flat where he was drugged and raped. The convictions and sentences prompted renewed scrutiny of the festival’s governance and safeguarding arrangements.

The video shared by Bindel has drawn attention to how organisers and elected officials responded to questions about the convictions and the festival’s future. The Daily Mail reported that it had contacted both MP Zoe Franklin and Pride in Surrey for comment; the article did not include responses from them.

Bindel said she believed the incident merited public scrutiny and suggested Pride in Surrey should consider suspending events "out of respect for the victim." Organisers and elected representatives have faced calls to clarify safeguarding procedures and how volunteers and founders are vetted following the criminal cases.

The matter adds to ongoing debate in Surrey about representation, safety and oversight at community events, and authorities and organisers have so far given differing characterisations of the organisation’s handling of the situation. Further comment from the MP and Pride in Surrey was sought but not included in the coverage reviewed by this article.