David Cameron is coming under increasing pressure after a covert tape-recording in which Chris Grayling said hotel owners should be allowed to ban gay couples.
David Cameron is coming under increasing pressure not just to sack but de-select his shadow home secretary over a covert tape-recording in which he says hotel owners “should have the right” to bar gay couples from their premises. Chris Grayling’s remarks, published in today’s Observer, run contrary to the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007 – legislation he voted for.
Grayling was caught saying:
“I personally always took the view that, if you look at the case of should a Christian hotel owner have the right to exclude a gay couple from a hotel … that individual should have the right to decide who does and who doesn’t come into their own home.”
His comments echo those of Adrian Watson, Tory/UUP candidate for South Antrim who was forcibly de-selected by Cameron after he said he would feel “uncomfortable” having gay couples stay in his bed and breakfast, adding his family “could be upset”.
Grayling’s secret comments, described as “very alarming” by Ben Summerskill, chief executive of Stonewall, are not just the latest in a series of embarrassments to the Conservative party high command, but the latest in a long line of regressive, anti-gay remarks from Tory candidates and allies in recent weeks.
A fortnight ago, the Tory leader himself, in an interview with the Gay Times, failed to commit to supporting the Alli amendment in the Lords which would allow civil partnership ceremonies to be performed on religious premises. He also backed the Tories’ far-Right, homophobic allies in Europe. Watch it:
On Tuesday, Left Foot Forward reported Tory councillor Denis Knowles’s comments about “an unusual group of young boys leafletting … of the limp wristed variety”; Knowles later wrote “Just joined Chris Grayling MP and Leah Fraser on a visit to the Allandale “Youthworks” in Seacombe…”
And on Thursday, Left Foot Forward revealed further details of the leader of Cameron’s MEPs Michal Kaminski’s past: He was active in a 1500-strong neo Nazi skinhead movement. In 2000, he gave a TV interview in which he refers to homosexuals as “pedaly”, literally pedals which is the near equivalent of “faggots” but also implies paedophilia. When the interviewer said it was an offensive term he repeats it: “What should I say – they are pedaly.”
Cameron has never condemned Kaminski or his remarks, and is yet to censure Grayling.
60 Responses to “The nasty party’s Easter resurrection”
sarah
Thanks Will- any chance LFF could set up a petition? I’m not really sure how its done. But I’ll definitely sign and SD will run a campaign page.
Politics Summary: Tuesday, April 6th | Left Foot Forward
[…] where there is a sign outside saying: ‘No gays, no blacks, no Irish’.” On Sunday, Left Foot Forward revealed the increased pressure on the Tory leader to sack his shadow home secretary, especially in […]
Mr. Sensible
G, if you run a service, or a business, what gives you the right to pick and choose who you serve and who you don’t?
Bing
What do you all think about the existence of exclusively gay hotels/b&b such as: http://www.guyzhotel.com/
Do you think they should be forced to take straight couples?
Here is what they say on the website:
If you are specifically looking for a Gay Hotel be sure to ask if it is exclusively gay when booking to avoid possible disappointment.
If you think the b&b was wrong to turn away a gay man, do you think it would be wrong to turn away straight people from a ‘gay’ establishment?
I have been turned away from bars in soho before for not being gay. Do you think it is different? I don’t but can understand some of the complexities.
I have been turned away also from a halal restaurant that was having a women only evening so they could have a social night away apart from men.
Different circumstances I know but it is odd that across the board, some things generate a lot of anger and some things effortlessly and quietly amble by without generating the smallest interest.
Look Left – The Week in Fast Forward | Left Foot Forward
[…] Cameron’s shadow home secretary Chris Grayling, who was secretly recorded saying B&B owners should have the right to bar gay couples. Having gone into hiding, he […]