Response to Iain Dale – The Pride Political Debate

By Ben Bradshaw MP

I like Iain Dale, but I’m afraid he has got it wrong this time and at the same time has exposed one of the problems of blogging.

In his open letter to me and Chris Bryant MP, he bases his assertions on a BBC article which focused on one or two things that Chris and I said – from a two hour debate, at which I don’t think Iain was present.

In fact the Pride Political Debate, held to launch Pride celebrations in London, was a good-natured affair in which Chris and I debated with the Conservatives Nick Boles and Nick Herbert MP, and with Stephen Williams MP of the Liberal Democrats.

In Iain’s open letter, he comments that “We should try to find common cause rather than constantly to seek cheap political advantage”. I understand why the Tories would want to remove the politics from the debate, since their politics have not exactly measured up to the equality agenda recently or in the further past. As a Labour Minister I am proud to explain and communicate Labour’s policies and to show that Labour has a strong track record of achievement in ending discrimination.

During the debate, I recognised and welcomed moves from some Conservative Party members such as John Bercow to drag their party into the 21st Century and sign up to the equalities agenda, but warm words from some of the more progressive Tories can’t hide the poor record of many Conservative MPs and activists.

I also welcomed David Cameron’s recent change of language on equality and expressed a hope that the day will come soon when we do not have to debate this at all.

In turn, Nick Boles and Nick Herbert MP made staunch defences of their party, acknowledged their mistakes and talked about their advances, and were very gracious in their praise for what the Labour Government has achieved.

However, I commented that “there is still a deep strain of homophobia that still exists on the Tory benches”. I do believe that many Tory backbenchers remain unreconstructed, as even a cursory glance at their voting and Hansard records will confirm.

The Tory reaction to the debate, seeking to shout loudly in order to stifle discussion about their current stance on equality and gay rights, shows they still aren’t in the right place on this and have missed the point yet again.

David Cameron has apologised for his support of Section 28, but the argument has moved on.

Why are the Conservatives rejecting important equality legislation for LGBT people in the shape of the Equality Bill?

Why did Cameron and his frontbenchers oppose fertility rights for lesbians?

Why are they, right now, opposing laws to prevent incitement to homophobic hatred?

And why are they forming alliances with far-right, nasty homophobic parties in Europe and why aren’t gay Tories like Iain speaking out about this?

Despite some Tories’ slightly hysterical reaction, they cannot deny that over the years and even up to the present day they have voted against nearly all of the equality legislation that this Labour Government has introduced. Although the mood music has changed from Cameron, I’m afraid I remain to be convinced that the Tory backbenches have really changed.