Thursday, July 02, 2009
Cameron leads, will Tories follow?
The Guardian reports that David Cameron has embarked on another major step in the modernisation of the Conservative party by offering a public apology for section 28, the notorious legislation which banned the "promotion" of homosexuality in schools.
In a gesture designed to stretch credibility the Tory Leader condemned section 28 as "offensive to gay people" and predicted that a Conservative would become Britain's first openly gay prime minister. How much of a journey this has been for Mr. Cameron is indicated by the fact that he voted against the repeal of section 28 as recently as 2003.
The real test though will be whether he can take the Tory Party with him on this. My guess is that many will be very unhappy at this u-turn.
In a gesture designed to stretch credibility the Tory Leader condemned section 28 as "offensive to gay people" and predicted that a Conservative would become Britain's first openly gay prime minister. How much of a journey this has been for Mr. Cameron is indicated by the fact that he voted against the repeal of section 28 as recently as 2003.
The real test though will be whether he can take the Tory Party with him on this. My guess is that many will be very unhappy at this u-turn.
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I suppose we can always be cynical but at least he is categorically using plain speaking.
Being unequivocal is a start at least.
Being unequivocal is a start at least.
It's not a u-turn Peter, IDS had already abandoned previous Tory position on ID. What Cameron is saying is that he is sorry the Conservative's ever introduced it and that it was wrong. Fair enough, really!
Section 28 was more spiteful than effective, and what it showed was how much the Thatcher government would play up to the tabloid prejudices of the time.
I wonder whether his earlier votes were more because of the whipping system than anything else. None of which excuses what happened, nor the fact that liberal Conservatives (oxmoron?!) didn't stand up for principle at the time - i guess that's why he has recorded an apology now.
I wonder whether his earlier votes were more because of the whipping system than anything else. None of which excuses what happened, nor the fact that liberal Conservatives (oxmoron?!) didn't stand up for principle at the time - i guess that's why he has recorded an apology now.
# posted by 
: 12:33 AM
: 12:33 AM
This passage from the article suggests that it was more than the whipping that led him to support Section 28:
'Shaun Woodward, now Northern Ireland secretary, defected to Labour after he was sacked from the Tory frontbench by William Hague in 2000 for rebelling against the party's support for section 28.
Cameron, who succeeded Woodward as MP for Witney at the 2001 general election, mocked his opposition to section 28. "Did Mr Woodward order a survey of local opinion about the issue that triggered his resignation – clause 28 and the promotion of homosexuality in schools?" Cameron wrote in a letter to the Daily Telegraph in September 2000.'
'Shaun Woodward, now Northern Ireland secretary, defected to Labour after he was sacked from the Tory frontbench by William Hague in 2000 for rebelling against the party's support for section 28.
Cameron, who succeeded Woodward as MP for Witney at the 2001 general election, mocked his opposition to section 28. "Did Mr Woodward order a survey of local opinion about the issue that triggered his resignation – clause 28 and the promotion of homosexuality in schools?" Cameron wrote in a letter to the Daily Telegraph in September 2000.'
he knows gay people have one vote
just the same as non-gays. Many more are gay or bi..much moreso than stats shows
just the same as non-gays. Many more are gay or bi..much moreso than stats shows
# posted by : 4:41 PM
: 4:41 PM
I think the majority of Tory party member will be horrified, and after all Camerons MEPs joined with homophobic partys in the European Parliament. This is just a populist move to gain votes.
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# posted by : 9:17 PM
: 9:17 PM<< Home
