Cardiff, 9th May 2025 - Propel Party Leader and Cardiff Councillor Neil McEvoy has publicly condemned Cardiff Council for what he describes as a “shameful” failure to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) in the centre of the Welsh capital, calling out the total absence of commemorative displays across the city.

The outspoken local politician took to social media on Wednesday (8 May), the official VE Day anniversary, to express his dismay that Cardiff had not erected any flags, lamp post banners, or visual tributes to mark the pivotal date in European and Welsh history.

“There is no recognition of VE Day today,” McEvoy said in a video posted on his platform. “Eighty years ago, people made a massive sacrifice for us. And where all the Welsh flags should be here, there is absolutely nothing at all to commemorate the generation of my grandparents, who sacrificed for us today — probably the greatest generation of people ever in the history of these islands — and there is not a single thing to remember them by. It’s absolutely disgraceful.”

Standing in Cardiff’s city centre, McEvoy gestured toward the usual sites of celebration and remembrance, which this year remained untouched by any VE Day markings. He blamed the city’s Labour-led administration for what he sees as a neglect of national heritage.

“The Labour council in Cardiff should be absolutely ashamed of themselves,” McEvoy added, urging residents to reflect on the importance of commemorating the past and to hold the council accountable for “erasing” public memory. It was the same attitude with St. David’s Day.

VE Day, marking the formal end of World War II in Europe on 8 May 1945, is considered a moment of solemn reflection of the fight against fascism and its aftermath.

“There are towns across Britain today doing what Cardiff is not, honouring the memory of those who gave everything. This was a missed opportunity to come together, educate our youth, and show gratitude. Holding an event days before to tick the box is just not good enough.

McEvoy, a vocal critic of the current administration and a longtime advocate for civic engagement and local identity, has called on Cardiff citizens to ensure future anniversaries receive the recognition he believes they deserve.