THEGAYUK

Tag: Labour

All the latest breaking news on the UK political party, Labour. Browse The THEGAYUK’s complete collection of features and commentary on Labour in the UK.

  • Jeremy Corbyn: People choose to be gay

    The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn seems to think that gay people “chose” their sexuality after he made a speech at LGBT History Month event.

    Jeremy Corbin Garry Knight England CC

    Opps. Jeremy Corbyn seems to think that the LGBT community has chosen its sexuality in a gaffe at the launch of LGBT History Month.

    During his launch speech, he said,

    “We’re with you, we’re in solidarity with you,’ he said. ‘Your triumphs are our triumphs.

    “Our defence of you is a defence of all of humanity and the right of people to practise the life they want to practise, rather than be criminalised, brutalised and murdered, simply because they chose to be gay, they chose to be lesbian, they were LGBT in any form.”

     

    You can watch the video over at PINKNEWS Facebook.

    The video was shot by PinkNews who shared the video via their Facebook page.  According to The Sun, the CEO of PinkNews, Benjamin Cohen said the remarks “were being taken out of context”.

    A spokesperson for Jeremy Corbyn said to PinkNews,

    “Jeremy clearly doesn’t believe that being gay is a choice.

    “Jeremy obviously meant people should be able to choose how they live their lives.”

    “Obviously” seems to be a strange word in this context… because obviously, the video evidence seems to suggest something else.

    People on social media were quick to condem his choice of words, with one saying that his words had “crumbled” her heart.

    https://twitter.com/kevpeel/status/827213149619290112

     

    https://twitter.com/stellduffy/status/827185057857142785

     

  • Government votes against introducing compulsory sex and relationship education

    Government votes against introducing compulsory sex and relationship education

    Conservative MPs have voted against compulsory sex and relationship, including gay and LGBT sex and relationship education in schools.

    Parliament
    CREDIT: TheGayUK / Jake Hook

    • 15 MPs voted on the tabled amendment 10 Conservative 5 Labour

    • The amendment would have made provision to add same-sex sex and relationship advice

    • The amendment would have made sex education mandatory to all UK schools, including faith schools.

    As the law currently stands state schools must provide sex education from a biological point of view, which leaves the UK’s gay and bisexual pupils at risk of not learning about gay sex and LGBT relationships. Free schools and academies, including faith schools, are allowed to opt out of giving these classes.

    No schools are required to teach their pupils about the emotional aspects of sex or relationships.

    A new amendment to the Children and Social Work Bill was tabled this week by an all-female group of MPs. The amendment would have provisioned that all UK schools must make lessons on “sex and relationships education, same-sex relationships, sexual consent, sexual violence and domestic violence” mandatory.

    The amendment was voted on by 15 MPs. Ten Conservative and 5 Labour. All the Conservative MPs voted against the amendment, all the Labour MPs voted for it.

    No other political party was represented on the bill committee.

    Conservative MP for North Dorset, Simon Hoare said that the amendment did not offer religious schools who oppose homosexuality enough protections.

    He said,

    “Some form of protection is needed for those who run faith schools, all faiths, to make the position absolutely clear.

    “I have little or no doubt that I will receive emails from constituents who happen to read my remarks. They will say that this is all about promotion, and this or that religion thinks that homosexuality—or another element—is not right.

    “To provide a legislative comfort blanket, for want of a better phrase, the new clause needs to include a clear statement that we are talking not about promotion, but about education, and where sex education is delivered in a faith school environment, those providing the education should not feel inhibited about answering questions such as “What is the thinking of our faith on this particular aspect of sexuality?”

    The number of sexually transmitted infections amongst the UK’s gay and bisexual teenagers and young adults has soared in recent years and Public Health England warned in 2016 that 36% of new infections in 2015 were found in those aged just 15 to 24, the highest increase in a single age group.

     

  • MP Angela Eagle Resigns

    Another high-profile out MP has resigned from Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow cabinet.

    MP Angela Eagle joins 27 other MPs who have resigned from Jeremy Corbyn’s opposition party. She follows Chris Bryant as two of the most prominent gay MPs to resign from the shadow cabinet.

    She told the BBC that she made her decision to quit after not hearing from Mr. Corbyn for 24 hours. She criticised his lack of communication with his shadow cabinet.

    A number of Labour’s MPs are upset at the apparent lack of leadership by Corbyn during the run up to the EU Referendum which saw the UK vote, by a slim majority to leave the European Union.

    Ms. Eagle has stepped down in her role as the Shadow Business Secretary and First Secretary of State and hasn’t denied her own ambition to be the new leader of Labour, if Corbyn resigns or is forced out.

    Taking to twitters Ms. Eagle said,

    With deep regret, and after nine months of trying to make it work, I have today resigned from the Shadow Cabinet

     

  • MP Chris Bryant quits shadow cabinet

    In the wake of the EU referendum and as confidence in Jeremy Corbyn as the leader of the opposition weakens, one of Britain’s most visible gay politicians quits the Shadow Cabinet.

    CREDIT: CC flickr.com:photos:sicliff:

     

    The Shadow Leader of the House Of Commons, Chris Bryant, has resigned after revealing that he has lost confidence in Jeremy Corbyn’s ability to lead Britain’s opposition.

    In a week of political turmoil Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of Labour has been put under tremendous pressure with 12 of his front benchers quitting their roles.

    The resignations have forced Corbyn to announce a new cabinet.

    Chris Bryant, one of the UK’s most visible gay politicians  and MP for Rhondda in Wales Tweeted,

    “We need someone new to unite and lead Labour.”

    His resignation letter to Corbyn said,

    “If you refuse to step aside I fear you will go down in history as the man who broke the Labour Party.”

    “Sadly, the referendum has shown that you and your team cannot run an effective national campaign and that you do not command the support of the country.

    “I urge you, because you are a decent man to do the decent thing and take the only action that can avert potential disaster by stepping aside.

    “If you do so I believe future generations will praise your selflessness.”

     

    Jeremy Corbyn has refused to step down as Labour’s leader saying,

    “I regret there have been resignations today from my shadow cabinet. But I am not going to betray the trust of those who voted for me – or the millions of supporters across the country who need Labour to represent them.”

     

  • Pro gay rights MP dies after being shot and stabbed multiple times

    A British politician has died after being stabbed and shot in the street in her constituency.

    Embed from Getty Images

    MP Jo Cox has died after being shot and stabbed several times in an attack in her constituency.

    The 41-year-old Labour politician had only recently begun her career in the Houses of Parliament after being voted in as the MP for Batley and Spen near Leeds in the latest general election in 2015.

    The lawmaker had recently called on the government to “to take further steps to end discrimination and bigotry against LGBT people in the UK and around the world”.

    A man, Tommy Mair has been arrested and is being questioned by police.

    West Yorkshire police said,

    “At 12.53 today, police were called to a report of an incident on Market Street, Birstall, where a woman in her 40s had suffered serious injuries and is in a critical condition.

    “Armed officers attended and a 52-year-old man was arrested in the area. There are no further details at present.

    “Police presence in the area has been increased as a reassurance to the community.”

    Embed from Getty Images

    The streets surrounding the area in which Ms Cox was attacked have been cleared and forensics teams are sweeping the area for clues and evidence.

    Embed from Getty Images

    Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn condemned the attack on Cox saying,

    “The whole of the Labour Party and Labour family – and indeed the whole country – will be in shock at the horrific murder of Jo Cox today.

    “Jo had a lifelong record of public service and a deep commitment to humanity. She worked both for Oxfam and the anti-slavery charity, the Freedom Fund, before she was elected last year as MP for Batley and Spen – where she was born and grew up.

    “Jo was dedicated to getting us to live up to our promises to support the developing world and strengthen human rights – and she brought those values and principles with her when she became an MP.

    “Jo died doing her public duty at the heart of our democracy, listening to and representing the people she was elected to serve. It is a profoundly important cause for us all.

    “Jo was universally liked at Westminster, not just by her Labour colleagues, but across Parliament.

    “In the coming days, there will be questions to answer about how and why she died. But for now all our thoughts are with Jo’s husband Brendan and their two young children. They will grow up without their mum, but can be immensely proud of what she did, what she achieved and what she stood for.

    “We send them our deepest condolences. We have lost a much loved colleague, a real talent and a dedicated campaigner for social justice and peace. But they have lost a wife and a mother, and our hearts go out to them.”

    Ms Cox is survived by two children and her husband Brendan Cox.

  • There’s A Sadiq Khan LGBT Fundraiser For His Mayoral Campaign

    For £50 you can party with Labour London Mayoral Candidate Sadiq Khan… and get a T-Shirt!

    In an effort to raise money for Mr. Khan’s London Mayoral campaign, the Labour party are selling tickets to an “LGBT Fundraiser”.

    For £50 you can get standard entry and a Sadiq T-shirt, however if you book now you can get a knock down entry for £15.

    The party is due to take place at the RVT and will be hosted by Amy Lame and will joined by a former Cover star for THEGAYUK Asifa Lahore.
    A statement from the website reads,

    “To help raise a bit of money for Sadiq Khan’s Mayoral campaign we are throwing him a big old LGBTQ+ party at the historic Royal Vauxhall Tavern on 2nd March hosted by the indomitable Amy Lamé.”

    According to the site, the MP for Tooting will be in attendance as well as other “labour guest apperances”.

    Sadiq has always voted for equal gay rights according to TheyWorkForYou.com, but was absent for a vote on the same-sex marriage bill, (third reading).

    The London Mayoral elections will take place on 5th May. Zac Goldsmith MP is standing as the Conversative candidate.

  • BREAKING: “Consistently” Pro Gay Jeremy Cobryn Voted As The New Labour Leader

    Jeremy Corbyn has been voted in as the new leader of Labour in a landslide election result.

    Jeremy Corbyn has been voted in as the new leader of the Labour party. Mr. Corbyn is an MP who has, according to theyworkforyou.com “consistently” voted for equal gay rights dating back to 1998 when he voted pro on lowering the age of consent to match heterosexuals.

    He got 59% of first preference votes (251,417 votes) – which was 40% more than Mr Burnham who was his nearest rival at 19%. Ms. Cooper was third on 17% and Ms. Kendal coming in with only 4.5% of the vote.

    Jeremy Corbyn beat Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall to the top, after the leadership contest was sparked due to Ed Miliband’s departure following a crushing defeat in the general elections. Tom Watson has been elected the new deputy Labour leader.

    According to the BBC 422,664 votes were cast.

    LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 10: Jeremy Corbyn, MP for Islington North and candidate in the Labour Party leadership election, speaks to supporters at the Rock Tower on September 10, 2015 in London, England. Voting closed in the Labour Party leadership contest with the results of which due to be announced on…

     

    The MP for Islington North secured 59.5% of the vote in a landslide election, which sees the left-winger politician become the new leader of labour.

  • COMMENT | Why Jeremy Corbyn is the best option for LGBT Brits

    Over the weekend, a video quietly dropped on YouTube in which revellers at this summer’s London Pride explained why they are backing Jeremy Corbyn for the next Labour leader:

    “He supported gay rights before anyone else supported us,” one young man explains, pointing out that Corbyn has “never voted against gay rights.”

     

    He’s right. Corbyn has voted against every anti-LGBT bill and for every advance in LGBT equality since he entered parliament in 1983, making him the only candidate who both opposed Section 28 and supported equal marriage. That’s an impressive ally, which is one reason why prominent LGBT activists from Lesbian and Gays Support the Miners’ Mike Jackson to the Guardian columnist Owen Jones have publicly backed Corbyn’s campaign.

    Like them, I’m proud to support Jeremy Corbyn for Labour Leader. And like them, my support is for reasons far beyond up-and-down votes for our equality. Mr Corbyn unequivocally opposes austerity, which is much more than can be said for his opponents, none of whom walked through division to oppose the Tory Welfare Bill, a chainsaw massacre of the welfare state and public services which leaves the most vulnerable in British society out in the lurch.

    At first blush, this may seem inconsequential to our community; equality and austerity, you shrug, are separate issues. Two studies conducted over the last three years, though, suggest otherwise. In 2013, UNISON—the public sector trade union—commissioned a study on how austerity has effected the LGBT community. The findings were startling: not only did LGBT people face “greater financial hardships from redundancies, real term pay cuts and changes to benefit rules,” but that austerity had led to “greater feelings of marginalisation and invisibility as specialist LGBT services and support disappeared.” Last year, the Trade Unions Congress, in their own commissioned report, found that LGBT volunteer and charity services were especially hurt by cuts in public spending, with “their already more than averagely impacted service users… particularly vulnerable.”

    Among the most vulnerable are LGBT youth experiencing homelessness. The UNISON study found that cuts to housing benefits, especially amongst the young, were especially difficult on young LGBT people “as they may find it difficult to find a safe and comfortable shared accommodation with flatmates accepting of their sexuality or gender identity.” The Albert Kennedy Trust, a charity which supports LGBT youth experiencing homelessness, earlier this year found that nearly a quarter of homeless British youth identify as LGBT. When the Guardian cited this study in its expose on homelessness amongst LGBT young people back in May, the government hadn’t yet slashed housing benefits for those under 21 and denied under-25s the minimum wage. This is disastrous for young LGBT people who have been kicked out of their homes by homophobic or transphobic parents and may find it difficult to find supportive flatmates, let alone a way to make rent.

    This is but one way austerity has negatively impacted our community. LGBT people are more likely to suffer suicidal ideations and mental health issues, largely due to homophobia and transphobia, than their peers, making cuts to mental health services particularly concerning to our community; even before the Tories had a majority, austerity measures had cut £253 million from the NHS’ Mental Health Trusts. And zero hour contracts have been notoriously bad for our community, especially; the UNISON study reports a trans woman who could no longer afford her transition because she made less on a zero hour contract.

    Which is why Corbyn, with his pledge to end austerity and bring about a more equitable society, is so appealing to so many, especially young people, at a time when youth unemployment is at its highest since the 1990s and LGBT people still face so much discrimination in employment. Corbyn has a vision that resonates, not just with those on the lower rungs of the social ladder, but with those at the top, as well. He is in every respect the peoples’, including LGBT peoples’, candidate.

    This may seem somewhat shocking considering last week I referred to him as having “all the electability and relevance of a Womble.” And my concerns about his abilities as a leader, not just of the Labour Party but of the country, remain. The same can be said, however, for his comeptitors. Not a single one of these candidates inspires confidence. Owen Jones can see Mr Corbyn as a future prime minister. I’m, from a purely strategic point, not sold yet, if only because he is an unproven leader with unproven results. Mr Corbyn has never sat on the front bench, let alone been in government. How he manages to wrangle the Blairites and Brownites within the party is of utmost concern. (But with grand pronouncements from Liz Kendall about refusing to serve in his shadow cabinet and dire predictions from Tony Blair, if the party splinters, it likely won’t be Mr Corbyn holding the sledgehammer.)

    Still, I have more faith in him than in Yvette Cooper, Liz Kendall, or Andy Burnham. They expected to trample over him, and in all fairness, Mr Corbyn didn’t enter this contest expecting to win. Yet here we are, with the MP from Islington North—a 30+ year backbencher—leading by double digits. Which, when you consider the mood of the British public, shouldn’t surprise any of us.

    As Vice reported last month, Mr Corbyn’s positions on a whole host of issues—from renationalising the railways and utility companies to dismantling Britain’s nuclear arsenal—are more in step with public opinion than any of the other three contenders. And as I wrote in my post-mortem after Ed Miliband’s throttling in the general election, Labour lost because they didn’t run far enough to the left. In these regards, he is just the candidate Labour needs to reclaim Number 10 in 2020.

    And that’s what is most important to the LGBT community. We need to roll back austerity in order to protect the most vulnerable amongst us. We need a champion who has been on our side his entire political career. We need someone with clarity of vision and purity of heart.

    That man is Jeremy Corbyn.

    Opinions expressed in this article may not reflect those of THEGAYUK, its management or editorial teams. If you’d like to comment or write a comment, opinion or blog piece, please click here.

  • How Gay Friendly Are The Labour Leadership Contenders?

    As the Labour party prepares to vote on its next leader, we look at the four candidates to see what their gay-friendly credentials are like.

    Andy Burnham
    Burnham has been an MP since 2001, in that time he has good voting record on LGBT+ issues, except Votes on adoption in May 2002, for which he was absent, because of the birth of one of his children and in 2008 he voted for bills which put forward: ‘fertility treatment requires father and mother’ and ‘fertility treatment requires male role model’. Explaining his voting he said to Pinknews in 2010: “Everyone should be able to draw on a father figure and a mother figure. That isn’t to say I don’t support IVF for lesbian couples.”

    Jeremy Corbyn
    Corbyn has been an MP since 1983. He has consistently voted positively for LGBT+ laws and policies. However in 2003 he was absent for the vote on Local Government Bill — Maintain prohibition on promotion of homosexuality (Section 28), he was absent for a vote on Relationships (Civil Registration) and a vote on Adoption and Children Bill (Programme) — Consideration and Third Reading

    Liz Kendall
    A relative newcomer as an MP for the Labour party. Kendall has voted positively for LGBT+ rights since 2010. The same-sex marriage bill is the one major piece of law making she has voted on – for which she voted positively.

    Yvette Cooper
    Cooper has voted positively on every piece of legislation affecting the LGBT community in her time as an MP. She was absent in 2001 for a vote on Relationships (Civil Registration), she was also absent for a vote on Civil Partnerships Bill [Lords] — Third Reading.

  • COMMENT | Why Is This Labour Leadership Race So Boring?

    Can I just say what we’re all thinking? Watching this Labour leadership contest is about as exciting as watching various shades of red paint dry.

    I’m sat here trying to come up with an interesting, fresh angle on this election, but I’m about two (okay, five) drinks in and all I can muster is:

    “Liz Kendall isn’t all that bad,”
    “Jeremy Corbyn reminds me of my grandpa,”
    “Yvette Cooper is also standing,” and
    “Andy Burnham has pretty eyes.”

    It’s a far cry from 2008, when Barack Obama galvanised the US Democratic Party with a sense of hope and a promise of a better tomorrow. Though I championed Hillary Clinton in that year’s primary, I remember watching his acceptance speech at that year’s convention with a sense of awe and genuine excitement.Even the 2010 Labour leadership contest seemed to offer some sense of renewal. There was, of course, the brothers Miliband, fighting to take the party in different directions. And Diane Abbott, that stalwart London socialist who provided a breath of fresh air—an actual leftist! A woman, and Black!—that is sorely lacking this go round.

    That’s the problem. Cooper and Burnham, both either tarnished or bolstered by their roles in in the last Labour government, depending on who you ask, are stuck quietly in the middle, mostly ignored and largely forgotten. Kendall and Corbyn would both have you believe that a bitter civil war is raging, with the soul of the Labour Party at stake. Each is positing themselves and their opponent as the devil and angel on your shoulder.

    But Kendall isn’t David Miliband, and Corbyn isn’t Diane Abbott. Both lack the charisma, the gravitas, and the star quality of their 2010 counterparts. And when the majority of Labour MPs can’t even bring themselves to vote against Tory austerity, you have to wonder what the whole point of the party is. If Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition can’t even be counted on to do a bit of opposing, it might make people question whether they’re worth voting for at all.

    The LGBT community certainly seems to be asking itself this question. In a YouGov poll conducted back in March, the Tories were in a dead heat with Labour when it came to LGBT vote share. Meanwhile, the Greens were increasing their support amongst our community, with The Guardian reporting a 16% increase in support from 2010 to 2015.

    Used to be that Labour was the natural home of our community. However, the Labour Party is no longer the only sanctuary for queer and trans Brits, as it was in the 1980s and 1990s. The Conservatives have softened their rhetoric, if not their voting record, on LGBT issues. Prime Minister David Cameron and Equalities Minister Nicky Morgan both champion equality, even if the former couldn’t convince his backbenchers (including the latter) to vote for same-sex marriage. On the opposite end of the political spectrum, many LGBT voters are flocking to the SNP and Green Party.

    This would seem to give credence to the civil war scenario Corbyn and Kendall present. After all, it does appear that, at least in terms of LGBT voters, the party is bleeding support on both ends of the political spectrum. And while all four candidates are touting themselves as champions of LGBT equality, with Burnham and Kendall having given exclusive and in-depth interviews to PinkNews, not one candidate seems to be capturing the hearts and minds of LGBT Labour.

    Our community seems mildly disinterested, but genuinely divided, if the rainbow avatars supporting Kendall, Cooper, and Corbyn on my Facebook feed are any indication. I’ve seen people come out in favour of all three candidates, but only because they have to support somebody. Not a single one of them seems to have the kind of zealous acolytes of Obama in 2008 or the Milibands in 2010.

    Anecdotally, at least, the only candidate not receiving ringing LGBT endorsements seems to be Burnham, whose record on LGBT rights is often described as tepid, at best. He missed a vote on gay adoptions in 2002, which he contends was due to paternity leave, and as Benjamin Butterworth wrote last month at the New Statesman, he twice voted for amendments which would require lesbians receiving IVF to name a father figure, despite the fact that in a lesbian relationship there really isn’t one.

    A look at their voting records—which you can see here —shows that all four candidates are at least marginally progressive on LGBT rights, though all four have offered more platitudes than policy at improving our lot in life. And not a single one of them appears to be galvanizing the support of LGBT Labour voters. This may be why LGBT Labour has said it won’t endorse any candidate.

    Of course, that may also be for strategic and political moves—the group has to work with whomever is elected leader, after all—but I can’t help but wonder if it’s not because they’re all so dreadfully dull, too. Of the four candidates, only Corbyn, who barely garnered enough parliamentary nominations to even make the ballot and who the Parliamentary Labour Party is now scrambling to defeat, seems to be generating any sort of real excitement among the party base.

    I use the word “excitement” loosely, because even those of us supporting Corbyn (which I do, and which you can read more about next week) do so with the most tepid of enthusiasm. He’s no Mhairi Black, with rousing rhetoric and fresh-faced tenacity. But he’s at least offering hope, which can’t be said for the others. While Kendall, Cooper, and Burnham keep talking about what Labour did wrong, about why it lost, and about lessons to be learnt. It’s an important conversation to have, but it’s also incredibly demoralising to a base which desperately needs inspiration and, dare I say, leadership.

    Corbyn offers a bit of that, but questions as to his electability remain, and are certainly worth asking. It’s not just down to his socialist pedigree, either. Jeremy Corbyn is a fine left wing MP, but he’s about as exciting and relevant as Leon Jackson’s latest album. Don’t know who or what I’m talking about? Yeah, exactly.

    Which basically sums up this leadership contest. The one candidate many of us can be passionate about has all the electability and relevance of a Womble, two of them (Cooper and Burnham) are like rocks at Stonehenge—around forever, thick as stone, and mired in the past—while Liz Kendall is basically your mum or dad criticising every choice you’ve ever made.

    None of which inspires confidence in the base, and none of which brings out the passions of supporters. This contest is proving to be as long and drawn out as an EastEnders anniversary plot: annoying, trite, and done before. We can only hope that, despite our lowered expectations, it has a payoff nobody saw coming.

     

    Opinions expressed in this article may not reflect those of THEGAYUK, its management or editorial teams. If you’d like to comment or write a comment, opinion or blog piece, please click here.

  • Religious Political Parties Against Gay Rights Fail To Achieve 7000 Votes

    Two political parties that would have would have looked to undo equality for LGBT people in the UK have faired terribly in the UK general elections as fewer than 7,000 people voted in favour of religious based politics.

    The Christian People’s Alliance which was staunchly against the redefinition of marriage to include same-sex couples and would have looked to repeal women’s right to choose, by abolishing the 1967 Abortion Act has at time of publish just 3260 votes failing to declare any seats in Parliament.

    The Christian Party faired no better with just 3205 votes.

    According to the The Christian Party’s website it believes that there is a “homosexual agenda” and a “militant homosexual lobby” and they are alone in “opposing the redefinition of marriage to include civil partnerships”.

    The CP would have wanted civil partnerships to be redefined to a civil contract.

    On their official website the Christian Party suggest that the “homosexual agenda” is a moving one, which began with the campaign to decriminalise what two people do in the privacy of their own homes, toleration, equality and fairness, coming out and now it believes“, and it is now in the coersion phase; it plans to move on to the paedophilia phase soon”.

    Neither party managed to gain any seats in any of the constituencies they were standing for.

    Currently, the Conservatives have 325 seats with over 11 million votes, Labour has 228 seats with 9.2 million votes, and Liberal Democrats has 8 seats with 2.3 million seats.