THEGAYUK

Tag: Politics

The latest news, interviews, and views from the world of LGBT politics in the UK and internationally.

  • MPs up for PM role announced

    MPs up for PM role announced

    Five candidates have now confirmed that they are running for the top job in the UK.

    Theresa May, Stephen Crabb, Michael Gove,  Andrea Leadsom and Liam Fox have announced their intentions to become Britain’s next top politician.

    All have troubling pasts when it comes to LGBT rights, with No votes and absenteeism rife among the candidates during key LGBT+ legislations.

    Theresa May has managed to evolve on her LGBT stance, but Stephen Crabb and Liam Fox were vehemently opposed to LGBT rights during the same-sex marriage vote in 2013. Andrea Leadsom refused to vote on any LGBT legislation.

    To see the candidates’ voting history on LGBT issues check out our information page.

    ALSO READ: Gay4May campaign launches – with some in the LGBT community supporting Theresa’s race for Prime Minister

    ALSO READ: Stephen Crabb launches campaign for Prime Minister

  • Online campaign “Gays 4 May” launched

    A grassroots online campaign with members of the LGBT+ community supporting Theresa May has been launched.

    The Gays4May, campaign supporting Theresa May‘s bid for the top job of Prime Minister told THEGAYUK that they wanted “stability” and someone who would “deliver the best Brexit deal for Britain.”

    “We’re like everyone else – we also want stability and someone who’ll deliver the best Brexit deal for Britain.

    “May has also got a track record at the Home Office, managing one of the most difficult jobs in government over the last six years, and has consistently backed efforts to deal with hate crime which is a clear concern for LGBT Brits.

    “We need to see this work continued with a strong advocate for LGBTs at Number 10.”

    Theresa May launched her bid for PM today, saying,

    “My pitch is very simple. My name is Theresa May and I think I’m the best person to be PM of this country”

    https://twitter.com/Gays4May/status/748287667922673664

    The race for the next Prime Minister was triggered after David Cameron resigned after the UK voted to leave the EU last week.

    Speaking about May’s voting history on LGBT issues, a spokesperson for the Gays4May campaign said,

    “It’s fair to say Theresa’s been on a journey when it comes to gay rights. This will be familiar to many of us when we consider the reaction and attitudes of our friends and family.

    “Theresa’s track record in many ways reflects the country as a whole. We’re fundamentally a tolerant nation. So we can look at the votes of 20 years ago or we can look at her support for gay couples seeking to adopt of 2010, her whole-hearted support for gay marriage of 2013 and her work tackling extremism and promoting equality.

    This is a campaign to vote for the candidate and the programme that’s before us today.”

     

    If she is successful in her bid to become the next leader May will be the second female Prime Minister and the second woman to lead the Conservatives after Margaret Thatcher.

  • “Reformed” on gay rights Theresa May launches bid for PM

    Theresa May who has seemed to have reformed her views on LGBT issues over her time as an MP has launched her bid for PM.

    Embed from Getty Images

    Theresa May has thrown her hat into the ring for Prime Minister after Cameron’s resignation triggered a leadership battle for the top spot in British politics.

    From a gay rights’ point of  view May has had a mixed voting past on gay issues having voted against equality until 2004 when she bucked her voting trend by voting in Civil Partnership.

    THEGAYUK’s editor Jake Hook remarked,

    “Theresa May’s history on LGBT issues hasn’t always been plain sailing. Up until 2004 May’s support for the gay community was non-existent having voting ‘no’ on many key issues including Age of Consent and ‘no’ on voting to allowing gay people to adopt.

    “However since 2004 it appears May has been reformed and evolved on LGBT rights.”

    If she is successful in her bid to become the next leader May will be the second female Prime Minister and the second woman to lead the Conservatives after Margaret Thatcher.

  • Where do Tory PM potentials stand on LGBT rights?

    Where do Tory PM potentials stand on LGBT rights?

    With David Cameron going and a new Conservative leadership campaign triggered we check to see what each candidate’s LGBT credentials are.

    David Cameron, who made LGBT equality one of the cornerstones of his administration has announced his resignation after the UK voted to leave the EU. A Tory leadership battle is now underway. We look at the possible candidates and their views and voting records on LGBT+ equality

    How we calculated our results.
    Using TheyWorkForYou.com we were able to define MPs’ voting records on equality issues. We made conclusions on an MP’s voting record – we counted Absent votes as a negative.

    The likelihood on responsiveness was a mix between a 2015 survey on how MPs responded to their own constituents’ emails and their voting record on LGBT matters.

    This list will be updated as new candidate come forward or denounce their candidacy.

    PERFECT: Voted to give equality each time

    GOOD: Voted to give equality most of the time

    MIXED: Voted equally for and against equality

    POOR: Generally voted against equality

    TERRIBLE: Always voted against – or abstained.

    REFORMED: Used to vote against, now has good record.

    STEPHEN CRABB | LIAM FOX | MICHAEL GOVE | JEREMY HUNT (not running) | SAJID JAVID (joint ticket) | BORIS JOHNSON | ANDREA LEADSON | THERESA MAY | NICKY MORGAN (not running) | PRITI PATEL (not running)

  • Has Madonna announced her intention to run for Presidency?

    Madonna has caused a stir after hinting that she’d be interested in becoming President of the United States.

    Superstar gay icon Madonna has caused a stir after hinting that the White House could be her next home.

    Material Girl Madonna took to social media to claim that the presidential home, the White House, in Washington D.C was her future home and apparently she can’t wait to “re-decorate.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BHNBY2phsw2/?taken-by=madonna&hl=en

     

    Her fans on Instagram reacted positively with many suggesting that she’d make an incredible leader of the US.

    With the US Presidential elections happening in November she’s a little late to announce her campaign for 2016, when millions of American’s will be voted for presumptive nominees Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump.

  • Anti-gay equality Tory announces his bid for PM

    Anti-gay equality Tory announces his bid for PM

    A Tory MP who voted against LGBT equality in numerous votes in Parliament has announced his bid to become the UK’s next Prime Minister.

    Embed from Getty Images

    The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Stephen Crabb has launched his bid to become the UK’s next PM after David Cameron said he was stepping down, following the UK’s decision to leave the EU.

    Stephen Crabb MP for Preseli Pembrokeshire has voted against a number of laws which directly affect LGBT equality dating back to 2007.

    According to TheyWorkForYou.com in 2007 Crabb voted against the Equalities Act (Sexual Orientation) which protects gay people from discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities, services, education and public functions because of their sexuality.

    In 2013 Crabb voted against allowing same-sex couples the ability to marry. He was then absent for all other votes concerning the interests of LGBT people in the UK, including allowing Armed Forces based outside the UK the ability to marry.

    Crabb has stood by his voting decisions by saying, “It wasn’t a clear-cut vote for me, but I don’t regret any vote I’ve taken.”

    He has been criticised for his links to Christian Action Research and Education, an advocacy group which some claim is opposed to full LGBT rights. They provided Crabb with interns in 2010.

    The former equalities minister Mr Javid is running alongside on a “joint ticket.”

     

  • 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.”

     

  • That 2nd referendum petition just hit 3 million

    That 2nd referendum petition just hit 3 million

    A petition calling for a 2nd EU Referendum has hit over 3 million signatures.

    CREDIT: EU
    CREDIT: EU

    Over 3 million people in the UK are calling on the Government to effectively retake a EU Referendum.

    The petition which was launched before the British referendum on the European Union calls for “a rule that if the remain or leave vote is less than 60% based on a turnout  of less than 75% there should be another referendum”

    Within hours of the EU ref results, which saw just a slim majority of the electorate voting to leave the European Union over 70,000 people had voted for a second referendum.

    Now just two days after the result which has left many in a state of shock, over 3 million people have voted on the  petition for a second referendum, which is sure to become one of the largest petitions to be delivered to 10 Downing Street.

    As is stands Petitions which garner over 100,000 votes are eligible to be discussed by MPs in the House of Commons.

    The petition is asking the Government to carry out another referendum due to low turnout and a result that is less than 60 per cent.

    “We the undersigned call upon HM Government to implement a rule that if the remain or leave vote is less than 60% based a turnout less than 75% there should be another referendum.”

     

    During the run up and during the voting on the EU, THEGAYUK asked its readers in a series of Flashpolls which way they were planning or hoping to vote. Overwhelmingly the readership said they were in the Remain camp, with 60 per cent saying they had voted for Stay.

     

    ALSO READ: David Cameron will resign in October

    ALSO READ: David Cameron booed at Pride after vowing to step down as PM

    ALSO READ: 79,000 people have voted for a 2nd referendum

     

  • Cabinet Minister comes out for Pride 2016

    Justine Greening has announced that she is in a same-sex relationship.

    The UK Secretary of State for International Development, Justine Greening has opened up about her sexuality, after announcing on Twitter that she is in a “happy same-sex relationship”.

    The MP for Putney, Roehampton and Southfields remarked that she had “… campaigned for Stronger In but sometimes you’re better off out!”

    She was referring to the UK’s European Union referendum which saw the UK’s electorate vote to Leave the EU, 52 per cent to 48 per cent.

    Her revelation was met with congratulations from many of her colleagues in the Conservatives.

    Former London Mayoral candidate Zac Goldsmith wished Greening well, Crispin Blunt, Chloe Smith and Guy Opperman were just a few of Tory MPs who wished Greening well.

    Nicky Morgan, the Minister for Women and Equal Opportunity said she was delighted for the couple.

    The UK’s Prime Minister David Cameron, who announced that he is to resign after failing to secure a Remain vote in the EU Referendum tweeted his congratulations saying her announcement was “great news”.

    Justin Greening later said that she was, “amazed and overwhelmed” by the support and that she really “appreciated” the messages.

     

  • How the LGBT+ community voted in the EU Referendum

    How the LGBT+ community voted in the EU Referendum

    THEGAYUK undertook an independent flash poll to determine how its readers would be voting in the EU Referendum.

    Yesterday, THEGAYUK asked its readers how they were voting in the EU referendum in a Twitter flash poll.

    The results collected showed a strong sway to the Remain campaign with 60 per cent saying backed the UK staying within the EU. Thirty per cent said that they were backing Leave campaign to get the UK out of the European Union.

    Ten per cent of those who took part in the flash poll said they were abstaining or not planning to vote.

    ALSO READ: UK votes to leave the EU

    ALSO READ: Reaction to UK leaving the EU from the LGBT community

    ALSO READ: Prime Minister David Cameron to step down as UK’s Premier

    ALSO READ: Petition underway for 2nd referendum