Cameron – Notable by his silence on LGB equality

While the Labour Government are embroiled in a dispute with both the Catholic and Anglican churches over Part 3 of the Equality Act 2006, which outlaws discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation in the provision of goods, facilities and services - David Cameron is nowhere to be seen.

The churches are callings for exemptions beyond the currently included doctrinal exemptions threatening to close their adoption services if they are forced to consider same-sex couples (see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6293115.stm).

The early day motion calling for robust legislation not allowing additional exemptions, number 142, has only 1 Tory MP (the gay friendly John Bercow) signed up compared to the 97 from Labour’s backbenches. This shows that the Conservative Party has done little beyond changing their logo in their steps to become a modern party ready for government. It is clearly not prepared to get involved in the difficult issues that political leaders have to engage with and questions whether they would be prepared to show leadership on issues that have been traditionally Labour like equality and social justice.

The Labour Party should use this as an opportunity to deliver for those who have brought them to power, to see through legislation as promised in the manifesto and show dividing lines with the Tories. We must expose superficial measures like a new logo and establishing the Iain Duncan Smith led “The Centre for Social Justice” when in reality the party is yet to move its position and thinks it can dupe the British public.