Who will win the race to 10 Downing Street – will Boris keep his premiership or can Corbyn or even Swinson knock him from the top spot? CREDIT: TheGayUK/Jake Hook
With just days before our 3rd General Election in 4 years just around the corner, THEGAYUK.com undertook a flash poll to find out whether its readers had made a decision on who they were going to vote on the 12th December.
THEGAYUK.com asked its readers a binary question of whether they were decided or undecided on who to vote for.
In total, nearly 400 people took part in the survey, at the time of publication.
One quarter are still undecided
In a previous poll, about which way they were planning to vote, THEGAYUK’s readership said that Labour, led by Jeremy Corbyn, was their first choice with 38 per cent of the vote but was closely followed by the Liberal Democrats, headed by Jo Swinson.
The Conservatives, with the incumbent Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, managed to grab hold of 15 per cent of the vote, while “other” which would you include parties such as the Greens, UKIP, The Independent Group For Change, Brexit Party, Plaid Cymru.
However, there is just under one-quarter of people who are still undecided on who to vote for.
At the time of publication, 23 per cent they were undecided, seventy-seven said they had made up their minds.
One commentator, Jay, summed up their feelings by saying, “You look at the conservatives how many lies they have told and with the leader they have got with Boris Johnson is embarrassing. And you have Labour with the likes of Diane Abbott and a leader like Jeremy Corbyn. You have the Lib Dems who look like competition winners. I don’t know who to vote for.”
Who will win the race to 10 Downing Street – will Boris keep his premiership or can Corbyn or even Swinson knock him from the top spot? CREDIT: TheGayUK/Jake Hook
With our 3rd General Election in 4 years just around the corner, THEGAYUK.com undertook a flash poll to understand where its readers were thinking about putting their “X” when they visit the voting booth in December.
THEGAYUK.com asked its readers which way they planned to vote with the choices being Conservative, Labour, Lib Dem or “Other” which could include Nationalist parties like the SNP or single-issue parties like the Brexit Party.
There were only four options permitted – this the maximum number of choices Twitter allows its users for polls.
In total, nearly 360 people took part in the survey, which lasted just over two days via a Twitter poll.
Labour comes out on top – but only just
Overall Labour, led by Jeremy Corbyn, came out on top with 38 per cent of the vote but was closely followed by the Liberal Democrats, headed by Jo Swinson. The Conservatives, with the incumbent Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, managed to grab hold of 15 per cent of the vote, while “other” which would you include parties such as the Greens, UKIP, The Independent Group For Change, Brexit Party, Plaid Cymru
How will you vote?
While the survey is in no way scientific or wholly representational of the LGBT+ community in the UK, it does give some insights into which way THEGAYUK’s Twitter followers are planning to vote come December 12th. Discuss politics and more in our politics forum.
So in political news, UKIP is allowing its members to vote on new branding for the party and the choice is between a logo which features a lion and one that features two stripes – one in purple, the other in yellow. Both offer the slogan “for the nation”.
But that’s not the only change UKIP – who have in the past had numerous issues with members and candidates being homophobic, as well as a spot of homophobia denial, are making…
No, they are also locked in a leadership race, with out hopefuls Anne Marie Waters and Peter Whittle facing, Henry Bolton – former candidate for Kent police and crime commissioner, Jane Collins – MEP for Yorkshire and Humber, David Kurten – London Assembly member, Aidan Powlesland and Former parliamentary candidate, John Rees-Evans.
The new leader will be annoucned today, at 5 PM – and will give a speech and press conference after the annoucement.
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-lang=”en”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Voting commences for the new identity <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/forthenation?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#forthenation</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/ukip17?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#ukip17</a> <a href=”https://t.co/yThm4Cn6Om”>pic.twitter.com/yThm4Cn6Om</a></p>— UKIP (@UKIP) <a href=”https://twitter.com/UKIP/status/913703153505366018?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>September 29, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Annie Marie Waters is in a battle to become the next leader of the UK Independence Party.
Annie Marie Waters is a contender for the next leader of UKIP. She’s been campaigning on an anti-Sharia law stance and was involved in Bristol’s recent, Gays Against Sharia demonstration. She’s currently bookies favourite to win the leadership contest. Her personal website lacks any manifesto or vision should she win the leadership.
Anne Marie is the director of Sharia Watch UK a watchdog which says its “particularly concerned with the elements of sharia law which are discriminatory and violent towards women and girls, and which endanger and threaten the democratic principle of freedom of speech”. She also called Islam “evil”
She also, along with former English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson, launched an organisation called Pegida UK which “protests against mass immigration and the Islamisation of the west”.
Annie Marie was born in Dublin in Ireland but describes herself as “passionately, loyally, resolutely and proudly British.” She studied journalism at Nottingham Trent University and graduated in 2003. She also gained a Law degree whilst she was working for the NHS as a secretary.
She describes herself as an LGBT activist and also served as a director of the National Secular Society.
Originally a Labour supporter.
Anne Marie started her political life supporting Labour, however, she left the party in 2013 saying that it was “betraying” the UK with its refusal to oppose Islam. She twice unsuccessfully attempted to become a Labour Party MP candidate.
Marriage?
Annie Marie is in a civil partnership with her wife.
The right and not right
Annie Marie recently engaged with defamation solicitors to seek a legal position on news outlets which referred to people as “far-right”, “fascist” or “racist” because they were engaged in conversation or negatively spoke out against Islam. She suggested that those who do speak out were frequently the subject of smears.
UKIP has just released its GE2017 manifesto, so we’re delved into the paperwork to find out what UKIP have promised and pledged to the LGBT+ community of the United Kingdom.
In the manifesto, the term LGBT was mentioned once, in which Flo Lewis, the party’s LGBT chair, said,
“Those of us who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender may have first hand experience of how misogynistic and homophobic attitudes are tolerated in the name of ‘respecting cultural differences.’ It is important to stand up for true equality in the face of those who would dismiss it.”
So down to specifics:
On education: UKIP will end sex education in primary schools. Will look into whether further legislation is required to tackle cyber bullying.
On health: Nothing specific to LGBT+ community, but promised to increase funding for mental health. Will also hold a review into editorial codes of the media, to promote “healthy body images”.
On politics: UKIP pledge to test the social attitudes of those who are seeking to immigrate to the UK. They wrote,
“…we do not believe in treating women or gay people as second-class citizens, and we hold to a fundamental belief in democracy and free speech. UKIP’s points-based immigration system will therefore include one further major principle: we will test the social attitudes of migration applicants to foster community cohesion and protect core British values”.
UKIP also will repeal Labour’s Human Rights legislation and remove the UK from the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights”. They will replace with a new UK Bill of rights.
On crime: Nothing specific to LGBT+ community.
On the world stage: Nothing specific to the LGBT+ community
We have divided the main issues into six sections:
Education: specific classes and lessons in sex and relationship education and a commitment to tackle bullying.
Crime: a specific look into tackling hate crime on the basis of sexual/gender orientation. Better support for domestic violence victims and survivors.
Workplace: a specific look into tackling inequality in the workplace.
Healthcare: a specific look into policies affecting mental, sexual health, PrEP and transgender/intersex issues.
In politics: What laws will be amended and changed to fully equalise the LGBT community.
On the world stage: What will the next government do to show that the UK is a beacon of LGBT rights?
We have also only taken parties that have a national footprint.
CONSERVATIVES
Number of mentions of LGBT: 0
Education: No specific mentions of LGBT+ sex or relationship education
Crime: No specific mention of LGBT+ but pledged: “push forward with our plan for tackling hate crime committed on the basis of religion, disability, sexual orientation or transgender identity”
Workplace: Nothing specific to LGBT+
Healthcare: No specific mention of healthcare reforms for LGBT people – including PrEP.
In politics: Nothing specific to LGBT+
On the world stage: “We will expand our global efforts to combat extremism, terror, and the perpetration of violence against people because of their faith, gender or sexuality”.
LABOUR
Number of mentions of LGBT: 11
Education: Teachers will be given training on how to deal with bullying.
They’ll also ensure that new guidance is issued on relationships and LGBT-inclusive sex education.
Crime: Labour pledges to bring the law on LGBT hate crimes into line with hate crimes based on race and faith, by making them aggravated offences.
Workplace: Nothing specific to LGBT+
Healthcare: Labour has pledged that it will work to “reverse the damage done to mental health services under this Tory government, which is particularly hitting services for LGBT and BAME communities”.
Labour also pledges that frontline healthcare professionals receive ongoing training to understand and meet the needs of LGBT patients and service users.
And PrEP? Well, they pledge that “NHS England completes the trial programme to provide PrEP as quickly as possible, and fully roll out the treatment to high-risk groups to help reduce HIV infection”.
In politics: They pledge to reform the Gender Recognition Act, which will protect trans people by changing the protected characteristic of ‘gender assignment’ to ‘gender identity’. They also pledge to remove outdated language such as “transexual”.
On the world stage: Labour have announced that they will “appoint dedicated global ambassadors for women’s rights, LGBT rights and religious freedom to fight discrimination and promote equality globally”
LIBERAL DEMOCRATS
Number of mentions of LGBT: 5
Education: The Lib Dems have promised to review sex education in schools saying that they will include lessons on sexual consent, LGBT+ relationships and issues surrounding explicit images and content.
Crime: Nothing specific to LGBT+
Workplace: The Lib Dems want companies with more than 250 employees to publish data on their employment of BAMEs LGBTs and pay gaps.
Healthcare: The Liberal Democrats have promised to ensure that “LGBT+ inclusive mental health services receive funding and support”. They also want to make PrEP available on the NHS.
In politics: The Lib Dems pledge to introduce legislation that will allow for all-BAME and all LGBT+ parliamentary shortlists.
On the world stage: The Liberal Democrats pledge a commitment to promoting the “decriminalisation of homosexuality around the world and advancing the cause of LGBT+ rights”.
UKIP
Number of mentions of LGBT: 1
n education: UKIP will end sex education in primary schools. Will look into whether further legislation is required to tackle cyberbullying.
On health: Nothing specific to the LGBT+ community, but promised to increase funding for mental health. Will also hold a review into editorial codes of the media, to promote “healthy body images”.
On politics: UKIP pledge to test the social attitudes of those who are seeking to immigrate to the UK. They wrote,
“…we do not believe in treating women or gay people as second-class citizens, and we hold to a fundamental belief in democracy and free speech. UKIP’s points-based immigration system will, therefore, include one further major principle: we will test the social attitudes of migration applicants to foster community cohesion and protect core British values”.
UKIP also will repeal Labour’s Human Rights legislation and remove the UK from the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights”. They will replace with a new UK Bill of rights.
On crime: Nothing specific to the LGBT+ community.
On the world stage: Nothing specific to the LGBT+ community
THE GREEN PARTY
Number of mentions of LGBT: Have released an entirely separate LGBT+ Manifesto.
They have released an entire LGBT+ manifesto. Which includes the following pledges:
Education: Sexual and relationship education for all students. Require every school to have an anti-bullying programme. Provide teachers with training to provide LGBT+ inclusive education.
Crime: Greens pledge to “Combat all forms of antiLGBTIQA+ prejudice and violence through improved hate crime protections”.
Workplace: Noting specific to LGBT+
Healthcare: Wide-ranging policies affecting the Trans and Intersex community. Including, giving people “personal autonomy in all medical decisions” and “Improve access to medical services and gender identity clinics, particularly for trans and non-binary young people.” They have said they would also, “Protect the welfare state in the face of Government cuts and preserve the vital security net many LGBTIQA+ people rely upon”.
In politics: Has pledged to make same-sex marriage “truly equal” to include pension rights. They will also open civil partnerships to opposite-sex couples. Will “Apologise to and pardon all 50,000–100,000 people convicted of consenting adult same-gender sexual relations under antisodomy laws that have now been repealed.”
On the world stage: The Greens have said, “The Green Party would speak out against those countries that discriminate against, marginalise and kill LGBTIQA+ citizens, and work with countries leading the way in recognising and protecting” the LGBT+ community.
SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY
Number of mentions of LGBT: 5
Education: Nothing specific to LGBT+
Crime: Nothing specific to LGBT+
Workplace: Nothing specific to LGBT+
Healthcare: The SNP will support efforts to ensure PrEP becomes available on NHS to any who needs it in the UK.
In politics: The SNP pledge to push the UK Government to extend the Turing Bill pardon to gay men convicted of same-sex activity who are still alive today.
They also pledge to ensure that same-sex couple have equal pension rights and “protected characteristics are expanded to ensure all LGBTI people are fully protected from discrimination and harassment”.
On the world stage: The SNP pledge to reform the detention and asylum system for LGBT+ people escaping countries where homosexuality is still illegal. They also pledge to remove “unfair and invasive demands for ‘proof’ of sexuality or gender identity”.
They also say,
“SNP MPs will support the establishment of a special envoy to promote the rights of LGBTI people throughout the world, as an integral part of UK foreign policy – helping to alleviate the discrimination and persecution faced by LGBTI people in Chechnya and across the world”.
Plaid Cymru
Number of mentions of LGBT: 0
Education: Nothing specific to LGBT+
Crime: Nothing specific to LGBT+
Workplace: Nothing specific to LGBT+
Healthcare: No specific mention of healthcare reforms for LGBT people – including PrEP.
In politics: Has pledged to publish a “human rights charter” to provide human rights regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation.
On the world stage: Nothing specific to LGBT+
Democratic Unionist Party
Number of mentions of LGBT: 0
Education: Nothing specific to LGBT+
Crime: Nothing specific to LGBT+
Workplace: Nothing specific to LGBT+
Healthcare: No specific mention of healthcare reforms for LGBT people – including PrEP.
The general election is a month away from today, but the big news last week was the already-scheduled local elections which took place throughout the country on Thursday.
The Tories, rather predictably, swept the local councils. Meanwhile, there hasn’t been this much Labour shock and pain since Sonia Fowler unexpectedly gave birth on EastEnders. The party suffered heavy losses throughout the country, while the Liberal Democrats similarly failed to accomplish the surge they were hoping. Likewise, UKIP was virtually wiped out by a Conservative Party which has annexed their pro-Brexit, anti-globalist agenda.
The full results in England show a Conservative Party in ascendency and virtually every other party losing ground to them, which bodes well for Theresa May as we look towards the next few weeks. That’s still to come, though, and four weeks is an eternity in politics. Meanwhile, let’s look back on the big gay week that was.
The biggest news undoubtedly comes from two hotly contested and highly anticipated inaugural mayoral races. In the former Labour heartland of the West Midlands, gay Conservative Party candidate Andy Street made history as the first openly gay metro mayor in the country’s history. In the final round, he narrowly defeated former Labour MP Sion Simon with a majority of just over 4,000 votes.
Still, the historic nature of Mr Street’s victory coupled with the fact that a Tory won in the West Midlands makes this accomplishment even more remarkable. It is also no doubt terrifying for Jeremy Corbyn. He is desperately trying to be the party of tolerance and openness while also holding on to the traditional working class heartlands which aren’t quite as keen on his metropolitan inclusiveness.
It wasn’t all bad news for Labour, though. Andy Burnham won the Manchester mayoral race. The former Secretary of State for Health and the politician with the most beautiful eyes (or is it just me?) won just over 63% of the vote, making him one of the most important Labour leaders in the country. He stood against Jeremy Corbyn for the party leadership in 2015, when his own questionable history on LGBT equality was made an issue by opponents. Mr Burnham has since said that his support for gay rights has led to rifts in his family, but that he does unequivocally support equality.
This is especially important as hate crimes have soared in Greater Manchester over the past few years, increasing by a third between November 2014 and October 2015. How Mr Burnham addresses the safety of the LGBT community, particularly in Manchester’s Gay Village, will be of vital interest to the local community and the LGBT activists across the nation.
The local elections were, as I said, the major story of the week – but they weren’t the only one. Of particular interest is the happenings in Ilford North, a key marginal constituency in North London. The seat is currently held by openly gay Labour MP Wes Streeting, a former NUS president and critic of Jeremy Corbyn. Before 2015 it was represented by Conservative Lee Scott, who is standing to take back the constituency this year. In an effort to help him do this, Ukip have decided not to stand a candidate of their own and instead back Mr Scott. Meanwhile, the Greens announced last week they are also standing down in order to back Mr Streeting.
Ilford North looks poised to become a – perhaps the – key Brexit battleground in London, if not the whole of England. Mr Streeting supported the Remain campaign but now accepts that Brexit is happening – though he’s hardly supporting the Hard Brexit of Theresa May. Ukip, on the other hand, see in Mr Lee and Mrs May two people who will support their vision of a Britain free from Europe and cracking down on immigration – that is, the Hard Brexit everyone keeps banging on about.
By standing down, Ukip all but guarantees Mr Lee’s victory. They took over 4,000 votes in 2015 – far more than Mr Streeting’s slim majority of 589. Looking at the results of the local elections, we see that the Conservatives have basically gobbled up Ukip like a late-night kebab.
It’s worth asking why the Conservative Party – long derided by Ukip as too pro-Europe – is suddenly so appealing to them under Theresa May. The Tories’ Brexit strategy is so similar to Ukip’s own platform that they’re willing to stand down, which should worry anyone who doesn’t want a Brexit harder than Tom Daley’s tushy.
While we’ll undoubtedly be talking about Ilford North more as the campaign carries on, there were some stories that flew under-the-radar this week but which are of particular interest to the LGBT community. The Tories selected former LGBT+ Conservatives vice chair Emma Warman to contest the relatively safe Green seat of Brighton Pavilion, currently represented by the Greens’ only MP (and co-leader), Caroline Lucas. Elsewhere in Brighton, the Tories are standing a woman who claims to be able to heal the deaf by prayer against openly gay Labour MP Peter Kyle. (No, seriously, they are.) Labour is standing openly trans Sophie Cook against anti-equality Tim Loughton in the Tory safe seat of East Worthing and Shoreham. And SNP MP John Nicholson claims an opponent accused him of hiring his wife to manage his constituency office. Only one problem: Mr Nicholson is openly gay and partnered. “My boyfriend will be so angry when he finds out,” he tweeted.
So that’s the second big gay week that was of this general election. If you’ve any tips you’d like me to consider for next week, please don’t hesitate to get in touch at skylar.baker-jordan@thegayuk.com. Until then, no matter which colour of the rainbow your rosette is, have a gay ole’ time out on those doorsteps.
Ever heard of Gisela Allen? Probably not. This morning, however, she became a viral internet sensation after a weird diatribe of what she wants and doesn’t want for her country, appeared in her local paper.
Gisela Allen is a UKIP candidate for a council seat in Garscadden/Scotstounhill, Scotland. After being asked by a reporter, “Why do you want to be a councillor?” for the Clydebank Post Allen laid out her wishes.
So what’s the take out from her wish list? She wants:
The death penalty, specifically the guillotine, (not hanging),
Mums to stay at home to look after their children,
The reopening of public toilets,
To close golf courses (they’re an environmental threat),
Children on horses,
No plastic bags, they’re threats to dolphins and animals…
UKIP’s leader Paul Nuttall has strongly condemned the persecution of gay men in Chechnya.
Paul Nuttall, the UKIP leader has today strongly condemned the actions of Chechen authorities and the Chechen leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, after over a hundred gay men were round up, detained and tortured in what some media outlets termed, “concentration camps”.
Paul Nuttall said,
“If these reports are true, and it looks like they are, then the Government must protest in the strongest manner.
“Just because the warlord of this Islamic fiefdom is an ally of Putin should not blind us to the horrific abuse of human rights being perpetrated.
“Putin claims to oppose Isis and its blend of fundamentalism in Syria but seems to be impervious to decency. He has the power to stop this inhumanity. The Government should demand that he does.”
UKIP leader Paul Nuttall’s official website is a treasure trove of his personal thoughts – especially what he thinks about political correctness – or as we like to call it, equality.
You may remember that in 2011 two Christian hoteliers, Peter and Rosemary Bull lost their court case after refusing to allow two gay men to stay at their hotel. Well, writing on his personal blog in 2011 after the court’s ruling on the case, UKIP leader Paul Nuttall believed that the vast majority of people tutted and “rolled their eyes” as the judge affirmed that equality and fairness is the law of the land.
Mr Hall and Mr Preddy successfully sued the hotel owners for £3600 in 2011, in a landmark case which found that Mr & Mrs Bull had discriminated against the gay couple, on the grounds of sexual orientation under the Equalities Act.
Although his entire site is now offline, for “scheduled maintenance”, luckily for us, Google has a cache of it and it reveals what Paul thought about the situation.
Writing in his blog on the site, he seemingly questioned the court’s decision by saying,
“What a complete joke.
“Aren’t people allowed to live by their religious beliefs in the country anymore? It seems not, especially if those beliefs clash with ‘modern’ views, which the PC ‘luvies’ constantly tell us, represents ‘progress.’”
He then asked whether the decision was really progress and asked in whose eye was it progress.
London Live, the capital’s TV channel, interviewed, Peter Whittle last night for its new weeknight London Mayoral election show, London Votes. Daisy McAndrew, spoke to the UKIP candidate for Mayor of London who suggested he had never heard any homophobia in UKIP.
Peter also thinks that there is nothing homophobic about his party, even when presented with the controversial remarks from UKIP south west candidate for cabinet, Alan Craig.
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Alan Craig referred to LGBT activists as the‘Gaystapo’ in a blog post published in 2011. He said,
Their gay-rights storm troopers take no prisoners as they annex our wider culture, and hotel owners (here) and (here), registrars (here), magistrates (here), doctors (here), counsellors (here) and (here), foster parents (here), grandparents (here), adoption agencies (here) and traditional street preachers (here) and (here) find themselves crushed under the pink jack-boot.
CREDIT: LondonLive
When asked to comment on Mr. Craig’s comments, Mr. Whittle denied that there was homophobia in UKIP saying and said that Mr. Craig was ‘entitled to his own view’.
“It tends to prove that in fact there is nothing homophobic about my party. I am the only gay candidate standing for mayor.”
“Ok, I have shared a platform with this guy. I don’t necessarily agree with his remarks, I for example believe in gay marriage. I’m fine with gay marriage. There are people in my party who are not.
“I am the Mayoral candidate, I’m number one on the list, I have never come across homophobia in UKIP. There are lots of gay people in UKIP, we have our own LGBT section in UKIP.”
“The guy is entitled to his view.”
“The party absolutely accepts what the law is now, it’s not even an issue anymore – the reason for that opposition, was never against civil partnerships, ever. They were worried that basically the EU – remember my party is based on an opposition to the EU, would force churches or what have you through the European Court of Justice to hold ceremonies, it’s actually something more to do with Europe.”
London Votes, weeknights at 6pm – Freeview 8, YouView 8, Sky 117 and Virgin 159
