MPs and LGBT campaigners have slammed the decision to block a vote
A private members bill aiming to erase the criminal records of gay men convicted of now-defunct sexual offences was talked out by Tories in the House of Commons this afternoon.
MPs shouted at Conservative minister Sam Gyimah to sit down as the cut-off time for SNP MP David Nicolson’s bill approached. However, the justice minister continued to speak, a vote was not called and the bill fell. If passed, it would have cleared the way for a pardon of nearly 50,000 men living with convictions for consensual homosexual activity.
Bitter scenes from the Commons as #TuringBill runs out of time as minister speaks pic.twitter.com/h1qZjSGAT0
— Esther Webber (@estwebber) October 21, 2016
Gyimah claimed that the government had already fulfilled its manifesto commitment to formally pardon those convicted under now-abolished laws, firstly by introducing a posthumous pardoning process, and secondly by allowing gay men to apply to have their convictions disregarded.
The government argues that a blanket pardon could lead to some men being pardoned for actions that are still crimes today, although the bill included a clause excluding those convictions from the pardon.
Campaigners and MPs from across the opposition have slammed the filibuster.
John Leech, a former Lib Dem MP who tabled the motion on Alan Turing’s pardon in 2012, commented:
“For years I have campaigned and fought for this moment and this could have been a hugely historic and proud day. Instead, it is adding further frustration and heartache to those affected and their families, not to mention the sheer embarrassment to this country.
It is 2016 and there are more than 75,000 people still convicted of just loving someone, it simply beggars belief! I am absolutely gutted and devastated at the result today, and completely ashamed of our government.”
Labour’s Wes Streeting, who intervened during Gyimah’s speech to warn him against talking the bill out, described the government’s actions as ‘a disgrace’.
Today @SamGyimah came to work to block a Bill to deliver justice for ppl imprisoned and chemically castrated for being gay. What a guy.
— Wes Streeting MP (@wesstreeting) October 21, 2016
‘No tricks. No games’ is what the government told @MrJohnNicolson. Shameful and dishonourable behaviour from them today #TuringBill
— Stewart McDonald MP (@StewartMcDonald) October 21, 2016
The #TuringBill was a chance for the Tories to show they have moved on from the dark days of homophobic #section28. They utterly failed.
— Nick Forbes (@nick_forbes) October 21, 2016
Earlier in the debate, Chris Bryant fought back tears as he argued for the bill, invoking the memory of gay parliamentarians who fought appeasement in the 1930s, but were dismissed by the government as ‘glamour boys’.
Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin is editor of Left Foot Forward. Follow her on Twitter.
17 Responses to “Tories filibuster ‘Turing Bill’ – denying pardons to 50,000 living gay men”
Alex from Carlisle
What a legend! Mmm! These leftist tears are sooo delish!
James Willett
What else did you expect from a neo nazi?
Mick
“Accepting a pardon is a recognition that either the law was badly applied or that the law was a bad law. ”
Tell that to the ghost of poor likkle Bobby Sands, the Left’s terrorist hero who died a martyr’s death by not eating his dinner. YES, take THAT, Mrs. Thatch!
He didn’t want a pardon. Even he knew that to be pardoned is to be forgiven for admitted crimes. Though I suppose disgraced homosexuals must know they did, indeed, express their sexuality through perversion – requiring only forgiveness indeed.
Ben Samuel
Now work with us to kick the tories out of Brighton constituency seats and local council wards.
Steve
The headline says “Tories filibuster …” but the article says one person did it. How many Tories approve of what he did and how many disapprove?
How many Tories think that preventing a vote is democratic?