Howard's election pledge on gays goes bust
pirate | 27.04.2005 19:28 | Social Struggles | South Coast | World
An advisor to Tory leader M.Howard,standing in Dewsbury uses anti-gay sentiments in her election literature.
(M.Howard signed up to gay lobby group Stonewall's pledge that no-one in his party would use anti -gay lit in this election.) Now, shown to be worthless (not unexpected really)
(M.Howard signed up to gay lobby group Stonewall's pledge that no-one in his party would use anti -gay lit in this election.) Now, shown to be worthless (not unexpected really)
original site.
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/election/story/0,15803,1471081,00.html
Home; www.guardian.co.uk
Adviser to Tory leader attacks gay sex laws
Vikram Dodd
Wednesday April 27, 2005
Guardian
An adviser to Michael Howard on making the Tory party more inclusive has accused Labour of passing laws allowing children to be "propositioned" for gay sex.
In her campaign literature, Sayeeda Warsi, Conservative candidate for Dewsbury in West Yorkshire, claims that Labour's lowering of the age of consent from 18 to 16 left children vulnerable to be "propositioned for homosexual relations", and that homosexuality was being peddled to children as young as seven in schools.
Mrs Warsi is described by the party as an adviser to the Tory leader on ethnic community relations and as a rising star. Last night she told the Guardian she had helped formulate the party's policies on immigration and asylum, but had not discussed her views on homosexuality with Mr Howard.
As part of his attempts to shed his party's "nasty" image, the Tory leader has said he now regrets opposing the repeal of section 28, passed by the Thatcher government to stop schools "promoting" homosexuality to children.
In her leaflet Mrs Warsi, the Conservatives' first female Muslim candidate, says: "Labour has scrapped section 28 which was introduced by the Conservatives to stop schools promoting alternative sexual lifestyles such as homosexuality to children as young as seven years old... now schools are allowed and do promote homosexuality and other alternative sexual lifestyles to your children.
"Labour reduced the age of consent for homosexuality from 18 to 16 allowing school children to be propositioned for homosexual relationships."
Later in her leaflet Mrs Warsi is quoted saying: "I will campaign strongly for an end to sex education at seven years and the promotion of homosexuality that undermines family life."
Last night the gay rights group Stonewall branded the remarks as "homophobic" and called on Mr Howard to disassociate himself from them. He and other party leaders signed a charter promising not to whip up anti-gay sentiment in the election campaign.
Dewsbury is held by Labour with a majority of 7,449. One in five of voters is Muslim.
Mrs Warsi, who has a seven-year-old daughter, stood by her leaflet last night: "It's a statement I make as I believe it. It is factually correct. Everything in this leaflet is fact."
Last night a Conservative party spokesman, pressed on whether Mr Howard disassociated himself from her remarks, said: "Of course Michael Howard supports her and he thinks she'll make a first class MP for Dewsbury, but she is entitled to her views on these free vote issues. Michael Howard understands that but does not agree with her on this."
Shahid Malik, Labour's candidate, said the Tory leaflet containing the remarks about homosexuals had gone out only in Muslim parts of the constituency, while white areas got a section about immigration. Mrs Warsi denied this.
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2005
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/election/story/0,15803,1471081,00.html Home; www.guardian.co.uk
Adviser to Tory leader attacks gay sex laws
Vikram Dodd
Wednesday April 27, 2005
Guardian
An adviser to Michael Howard on making the Tory party more inclusive has accused Labour of passing laws allowing children to be "propositioned" for gay sex.
In her campaign literature, Sayeeda Warsi, Conservative candidate for Dewsbury in West Yorkshire, claims that Labour's lowering of the age of consent from 18 to 16 left children vulnerable to be "propositioned for homosexual relations", and that homosexuality was being peddled to children as young as seven in schools.
Mrs Warsi is described by the party as an adviser to the Tory leader on ethnic community relations and as a rising star. Last night she told the Guardian she had helped formulate the party's policies on immigration and asylum, but had not discussed her views on homosexuality with Mr Howard.
As part of his attempts to shed his party's "nasty" image, the Tory leader has said he now regrets opposing the repeal of section 28, passed by the Thatcher government to stop schools "promoting" homosexuality to children.
In her leaflet Mrs Warsi, the Conservatives' first female Muslim candidate, says: "Labour has scrapped section 28 which was introduced by the Conservatives to stop schools promoting alternative sexual lifestyles such as homosexuality to children as young as seven years old... now schools are allowed and do promote homosexuality and other alternative sexual lifestyles to your children.
"Labour reduced the age of consent for homosexuality from 18 to 16 allowing school children to be propositioned for homosexual relationships."
Later in her leaflet Mrs Warsi is quoted saying: "I will campaign strongly for an end to sex education at seven years and the promotion of homosexuality that undermines family life."
Last night the gay rights group Stonewall branded the remarks as "homophobic" and called on Mr Howard to disassociate himself from them. He and other party leaders signed a charter promising not to whip up anti-gay sentiment in the election campaign.
Dewsbury is held by Labour with a majority of 7,449. One in five of voters is Muslim.
Mrs Warsi, who has a seven-year-old daughter, stood by her leaflet last night: "It's a statement I make as I believe it. It is factually correct. Everything in this leaflet is fact."
Last night a Conservative party spokesman, pressed on whether Mr Howard disassociated himself from her remarks, said: "Of course Michael Howard supports her and he thinks she'll make a first class MP for Dewsbury, but she is entitled to her views on these free vote issues. Michael Howard understands that but does not agree with her on this."
Shahid Malik, Labour's candidate, said the Tory leaflet containing the remarks about homosexuals had gone out only in Muslim parts of the constituency, while white areas got a section about immigration. Mrs Warsi denied this.
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2005
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