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A Britain We All Call Home > Published by Shamik Das, April 4th 2010 at 11:12 am

The nasty party’s Easter resurrection

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David Cameron is coming under increasing pressure not just to sack but de-select his shadow home secretary over a covert tape-recording in which he says hotel owners “should have the right” to bar gay couples from their premises. Chris Grayling’s remarks, published in today’s Observer, run contrary to the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007 – legislation he voted for.

Grayling was caught saying:

“I personally always took the view that, if you look at the case of should a Christian hotel owner have the right to exclude a gay couple from a hotel … that individual should have the right to decide who does and who doesn’t come into their own home.”

His comments echo those of Adrian Watson, Tory/UUP candidate for South Antrim who was forcibly de-selected by Cameron after he said he would feel “uncomfortable” having gay couples stay in his bed and breakfast, adding his family “could be upset”.

Grayling’s secret comments, described as “very alarming” by Ben Summerskill, chief executive of Stonewall, are not just the latest in a series of embarrassments to the Conservative party high command, but the latest in a long line of regressive, anti-gay remarks from Tory candidates and allies in recent weeks.

A fortnight ago, the Tory leader himself, in an interview with the Gay Times, failed to commit to supporting the Alli amendment in the Lords which would allow civil partnership ceremonies to be performed on religious premises. He also backed the Tories’ far-Right, homophobic allies in Europe. Watch it:

On Tuesday, Left Foot Forward reported Tory councillor Denis Knowles’s comments about “an unusual group of young boys leafletting … of the limp wristed variety”; Knowles later wrote “Just joined Chris Grayling MP and Leah Fraser on a visit to the Allandale “Youthworks” in Seacombe…”

And on Thursday, Left Foot Forward revealed further details of the leader of Cameron’s MEPs Michal Kaminski’s past: He was active in a 1500-strong neo Nazi skinhead movement. In 2000, he gave a TV interview in which he refers to homosexuals as “pedaly”, literally pedals which is the near equivalent of “faggots” but also implies paedophilia. When the interviewer said it was an offensive term he repeats it: “What should I say – they are pedaly.”

Cameron has never condemned Kaminski or his remarks, and is yet to censure Grayling.

  • http://twitter.com/bin27/status/11581544423 Bin27

    RT @BevaniteEllie: RT @leftfootfwd: The nasty party's Easter resurrection: http://bit.ly/dCA7KL

  • http://twitter.com/amerimatryoshka/status/11581638713 Tab

    Perhaps you understand how I feel being turned away for my status @BevaniteEllie The nasty party's Easter resurrection: http://bit.ly/dCA7KL

  • http://twitter.com/audreydixon/status/11581872034 audrey dixon

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  • http://twitter.com/9xzulug/status/11582348974 winston k moss

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  • http://twitter.com/phelim/status/11582877568 Feidhlim MacBradaigh

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  • http://twitter.com/bevaniteellie/status/11581490628 Ellie Gellard

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  • http://twitter.com/jaekay/status/11581496421 Jae Kay

    RT @leftfootfwd: The nasty party's Easter resurrection: http://bit.ly/dCA7KL

  • topsy_top20k_en

    The nasty party's Easter resurrection: http://bit.ly/dCA7KL

  • http://twitter.com/jaekay/status/11581561868 Jae Kay

    The second to last paragraph in this article is awesome stuff. Joined up bigots! Denis Knowles/Chris Grayling http://bit.ly/dCA7KL

  • http://twitter.com/bencooper86/status/11581579106 Ben Cooper

    RT @leftfootfwd: The nasty party's Easter resurrection: http://bit.ly/dCA7KL

  • http://www.ubervu.com/conversations/www.leftfootforward.org/2010/04/the-nasty-partys-easter-resurrection/ uberVU – social comments

    Social comments and analytics for this post…

    This post was mentioned on Twitter by leftfootfwd: The nasty party’s Easter resurrection: http://bit.ly/dCA7KL...

  • http://twitter.com/jessica_asato/status/11583239944 Jessica Asato

    RT @leftfootfwd: The nasty party's Easter resurrection: http://bit.ly/dCA7KL

  • http://twitter.com/villagered/status/11581629523 Red

    RT @leftfootfwd: The nasty party's Easter resurrection: http://bit.ly/dCA7KL

  • Anonymous

    Be careful Shamik – last Easter we were the Nasty Party when smeargate first hit the waves.

  • Jamie Edwards

    I am in two minds about this one (what business does the government dictating who can enter your home, but then at what point does your home become more of a commercial premise (B+B) than a home?).

    What I do not understand is how Labour can accuse the Torys of flying in the face of equality, when Labour are absolutely choosing to prioritise the rights of one group above another (homosexuals above Christians, in this case).

  • http://twitter.com/labourlist/status/11584369239 LabourList

    LiveLIST: The nasty party's Easter resurrection http://is.gd/bdVNP

  • http://twitter.com/lefty_lisa/status/11584486866 Lefty Lisa

    RT @LabourList: LiveLIST: The nasty party's Easter resurrection http://is.gd/bdVNP

  • http://twitter.com/sohopolitico/status/11584557247 Soho Politico

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  • http://www.patrickjames.co.uk/ Patrick James

    The Conservative party is trying to have it both ways on these LGBT issues.

    It wants to appear modern and progressive but at the same time it contains many people with homophobic views, forms alliances with far-right deeply homophobic parties in Europe and behaves like a far-right party in Europe. In the House of Lords Conservative party peers vote in a deeply conservative fashion on LGBT issues.

    As a gay man myself I think that people with an interest in reducing discrimination against LGBT people should avoid the Conservative party.

  • http://www.patrickjames.co.uk/ Patrick James

    Jamie Edwards writes:

    “What I do not understand is how Labour can accuse the Torys of flying in the face of equality, when Labour are absolutely choosing to prioritise the rights of one group above another (homosexuals above Christians, in this case).”

    I find it difficult to see how the rights of LGBT people are being prioritised above Christians?

    LGBT people are not allowed to run B & B’s and refuse service to Christians on the basis of “conscience”.

  • http://twitter.com/karenmmccormack/status/11585047422 Karen M McCormack

    RT @LabourList: LiveLIST: The nasty party's Easter resurrection http://is.gd/bdVNP

  • http://twitter.com/yormtweetty/status/11584480059 kay

    RT @labourlist: LiveLIST: The nasty party's Easter resurrection http://is.gd/bdVNP

  • http://twitter.com/sceptwic/status/11587479579 Sam McBratney

    Very good use of metaphor! RT @LabourList: LiveLIST: The nasty party's Easter resurrection http://is.gd/bdVNP

  • http://twitter.com/tommilleruk/status/11590555517 Tom Miller

    RT @leftfootfwd: The nasty party's Easter resurrection: http://bit.ly/dCA7KL

  • http://twitter.com/tugsandtost/status/11590608869 matthew bond

    RT @leftfootfwd: The nasty party's Easter resurrection: http://bit.ly/dCA7KL

  • http://twitter.com/tonepearce/status/11591913987 Anthony Pearce

    RT @leftfootfwd: The nasty party's Easter resurrection: http://bit.ly/dCA7KL

  • Mr. Sensible

    Jamie, how is Labour descriminating against Christians?

    If you provide a B and B service; no one obbliges you to, then you have an obblication to provide that service to all customers, irrespective of your personal beliefs.

    I thought we should not be taken in by this nonsense about New Modern, progressive Conservatism, and I have been proved right.

    Grayling and Osborne between them are turning in to massive liabilities for the Tories.

  • http://www.samedifference1.com sarah

    I don’t want Grayling in charge of equality laws if Tories win the election! If this is how he feels about gay rights God knows what his views are on disability, or race, or women’s rights!

    I’m setting up a Facebook group calling for Grayling to resign. Do I have LFF’s support on this? Is it possible to set up a petition?

  • http://twitter.com/stoptheright/status/11599030718 StopTheRight

    RT @leftfootfwd: The nasty party's Easter resurrection: http://bit.ly/dCA7KL

  • http://twitter.com/alex_ross1983/status/11601298014 Alex Ross

    The nasty party’s Easter resurrection http://bit.ly/bqW0Ek

  • http://twitter.com/bethwhatcanido/status/11601882057 beth watson

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  • http://twitter.com/tankthetories/status/11603231300 Tank the Tories

    RT @Alex_Ross1983 The nasty party’s Easter resurrection http://bit.ly/bqW0Ek

  • Niles Cooke

    And what about Harman’s past links to what almost amounts to, with it’s acceptance of adult-child sex, a British version of NAMBLA? Now that’s nasty.
    I read quote the other week from a female Labour MP (quote supplied if needed) stating that not only doesn’t she have any Conservative friends, she wouldn’t want to have any either. Now that’s bigotry.

  • G

    If you are Christian you should simply not set up a business. You are not allowed (even in a private business)discriminate against any racial or minority group because of your religious beliefs.

    There is a choice, offend people and be charged, or be offended and… well your Christian you do not matter.

  • Robert

    Chris Grayling has been treated extremely leniently by David Cameron for months, what with his being rather casual with statistics and now this episode.

    In 2005 Howard Flight was promptly and ruthlessly dropped by Michael Howard for tipping his nose to a private group of friends that there might be scope for tax cuts by an incoming Tory government contrary to Michael Howard’s express policy on the matter. Flight was sacrificed “pour encourager les autres” and very effective it was, too.

    Mr Cameron really does need to flex his muscles to silence loose tongues otherwise his government, should it be his duty to form one in May, will rapidly degenerate about his ears as he will be seen to be a weak and inconsistent leader.

    Heir to Major.

  • http://twitter.com/lgbtlabour/status/11632088057 LGBT Labour

    RT @leftfootfwd: The nasty party's Easter resurrection http://bit.ly/dCA7KL

  • http://twitter.com/christineburns/status/11632189123 Christine Burns

    RT @LGBTLabour: RT @leftfootfwd: The nasty party's Easter resurrection http://bit.ly/dCA7KL

  • http://twitter.com/chrisplol/status/11632322948 Chris Paul

    RT @kevpeel: RT @LGBTLabour RT @leftfootfwd: The nasty party's Easter resurrection http://bit.ly/dCA7KL #sackchrisgrayling

  • http://twitter.com/chrisplol/status/11632361444 Chris Paul

    RT @LGBTLabour: RT @leftfootfwd: The nasty party's Easter resurrection http://bit.ly/dCA7KL

  • http://twitter.com/kevpeel/status/11632116293 Kevin Peel

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  • http://twitter.com/sspcampsie/status/11632117393 SSP Campsie

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  • http://twitter.com/retweetss/status/11632208422 ReTweets

    RT @LGBTLabour: RT @leftfootfwd: The nasty party's Easter resurrection http://bit.ly/dCA7KL

  • http://twitter.com/lukepollard/status/11632257965 Luke Pollard

    RT @LGBTLabour: RT @leftfootfwd: The nasty party's Easter resurrection http://bit.ly/dCA7KL

  • Will Straw

    Jamie, G – Didn’t Jesus teach, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged” (Matthew 7:1). Unless you take a very literal interpretation of the Bible, there is nothing inconsistent with being a Christian and being gay. Indeed, there are many gay vicars as there are many gay B&B owners. Labour’s legislation is not a prioritisation of homosexual rights over Christian rights, it is the prioritisation of equality over prejudice.

    Sarah – we’ll support your petition. Grayling should have been sacked months ago for incompetence, but he has now disqualified himself for the post of Home Secretary. I suspect Michael Gove, who apparently covets the position, would also be happy to support you.

  • Felix Grenfell Bozek

    I think the incredible thing about the idea that B&B owners “should have the right” to bar gay couples from their premises’ is how would this actually work in practice?

    Should gay couples feel obliged to declare their sexuality when making a booking to avoid the (at best) inconvenience of being turned away from a B&B? Or to prevent these misunderstandings, would B&Bs that bar gay couples state so on their websites etc. – in a ‘no dogs, no gays’ form- to prevent such misunderstandings?

  • http://www.samedifference1.com sarah

    Thanks Will- any chance LFF could set up a petition? I’m not really sure how its done. But I’ll definitely sign and SD will run a campaign page.

  • http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/04/politics-summary-tuesday-april-6th/ Politics Summary: Tuesday, April 6th | Left Foot Forward

    [...] where there is a sign outside saying: ‘No gays, no blacks, no Irish’.” On Sunday, Left Foot Forward revealed the increased pressure on the Tory leader to sack his shadow home secretary, especially in [...]

  • Mr. Sensible

    G, if you run a service, or a business, what gives you the right to pick and choose who you serve and who you don’t?

  • Bing

    What do you all think about the existence of exclusively gay hotels/b&b such as: http://www.guyzhotel.com/

    Do you think they should be forced to take straight couples?

    Here is what they say on the website:
    If you are specifically looking for a Gay Hotel be sure to ask if it is exclusively gay when booking to avoid possible disappointment.

    If you think the b&b was wrong to turn away a gay man, do you think it would be wrong to turn away straight people from a ‘gay’ establishment?

    I have been turned away from bars in soho before for not being gay. Do you think it is different? I don’t but can understand some of the complexities.

    I have been turned away also from a halal restaurant that was having a women only evening so they could have a social night away apart from men.

    Different circumstances I know but it is odd that across the board, some things generate a lot of anger and some things effortlessly and quietly amble by without generating the smallest interest.

  • http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/04/look-left-the-week-in-fast-forward-09-04-10/ Look Left – The Week in Fast Forward | Left Foot Forward

    [...] Cameron’s shadow home secretary Chris Grayling, who was secretly recorded saying B&B owners should have the right to bar gay couples. Having gone into hiding, he [...]

  • http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/04/osbornes-gay-marriage-vow-undermined-by-grassroots-reaction/ Osborne’s gay marriage vow undermined by grassroots reaction | Left Foot Forward

    [...] gathered outside CCHQ to protest the Tory record on gay rights and Chris Grayling’s recent homophobic remarks, the shadow Chancellor claimed the the party had changed, and had “real policies to advance [...]

  • http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/04/same-old-tories-have-missed-their-progressive-moment/ “Same old Tories” have missed their progressive moment | Left Foot Forward

    [...] Chris Grayling’s secret remarks to a group of right-wingers in which he said bigoted B&B owners should be allowed to [...]

  • http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/04/cameron-let-me-down-says-founder-of-tory-gay-rights-group/ Cameron let me down, says founder of Tory gay rights group | Left Foot Forward

    [...] said that the tipping point to their decision to defect to Labour was Chris Grayling’s remarks on B&Bs and David Cameron’s slow response in calling for an [...]

  • http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/04/cameron-slams-grayling-on-bb-remarks/ Cameron slams Grayling on B&B remarks | Left Foot Forward

    [...] he was “talking about debates from some years ago” despite previously saying he “always took the view” about B&B owners. But his leader, David Cameron, has said “he shouldn’t have [...]

  • http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/04/tory-ppc-forced-to-delete-homophobic-remarks-from-website/ Tory PPC forced to delete homophobic remarks from website | Left Foot Forward

    [...] Party, following shadow home secretary Chris Grayling’s remarks that B&B owners should refuse entry to gay couples and shadow defence minister Julian Lewis’s comments on the age of consent and [...]

  • http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/04/tory-mep-and-councillors-rally-round-sacked-homophobe/ Tory MEP and councillors arally round sacked homophobe | Left Foot Forward

    [...] Cameron has come under pressure for sacking Philip Lardner but refusing to remove Chris Grayling or Julian Lewis for their offensive remarks on gay rights. But if Cameron was applying the [...]

  • http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/05/hague-defends-tory-ppc-who-tried-to-cure-gay-people/ Hague defends Tory PPC who “tried to ‘cure’ gay people” | Left Foot Forward

    [...] about Tory MPs, candidates and allies in recent months; these include the homophobic remarks of Chris Grayling and Julian Lewis. Both men remain members of David Cameron’s front bench team. Share | [...]

  • http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/05/look-left-the-week-in-fast-forward-14-05-10/ Look Left – The Week in Fast Forward | Left Foot Forward

    [...] with Liberal Democrats, Liberal Democrats – the homophobic former shadow home secretary Chris Grayling, who Mr Cameron has appointed junior pensions minister rather than sack outright. And his successor [...]

  • http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/08/another-balls-up-by-calamity-chris/ Another balls-up by Calamity Chris! | Left Foot Forward

    [...] April 4th: Grayling is secretly recorded saying hotel owners “should have the right” to bar gay couples from their premises – putting him at odds with the image of the ‘new’ Tory [...]

  • http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/04/out-of-hiding-calamity-grayling-is-wrong-on-drugs-reoffending/ Calamity Grayling is wrong on drugs & reoffending | Left Foot Forward

    [...] Grayling has been spotted! After gaffe after gaffe, the Conservative shadow home secretary has come out of hiding. And once again, he has [...]