Tory MEP and councillors rally around sacked homophobe

Conservative Home called this week for consistency from the Lib Dems – demanding action against a parliamentary candidate for making the same kind of comments “which got a Lib Dem frontbencher sacked”. Will they demand the same standards from their own party leader?

David 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 consistency that Conservative Home calls for, a number of Tory council candidates would also be for the chop.

Several prominent grassroots Conservatives have come out in support of Lardner, the sacked parliamentary candidate for North Ayrshire and Arran who said homosexuality was “not normal”. Tim Montgomerie, editor of Conservative Home, has claimed that Lardner’s views are “shared by many conservative Christians”, adding his suspension seemed “a disproportionate response”.

Some of his commenters, among them a Tory MEP, council candidates and councillors, go even further. Roger Helmer MEP said:

“Philip Lardner is a sound Conservative and a good friend. Of course the Party in Scotland is free to disagree with his remarks, but in suspending him it shows a disturbing intolerance for dissent.”

Cllr Colin Gore, leader of the Tory group on Oadby and Wigston Borough Council in Leicestershire said:

“Are Christian Conservatives now not allowed to have views on gays that people in Islington do not agree with?”

Cllr John Chilver of Aylesbury Vale District Council said:

“This candidate should be reinstated immediately… Have we become so cravenly submissive to the dictates of political correctness that we are unable to defend a Christian moral conscience?”

Cllr Sam Chapman of Chorley South said:

“I don’t understand what Mr Lardner has done wrong.”

And Shaun Bennett, assumed to be the Tory candidate for Hartshill and Penkull ward in Stoke-on-Trent who comments regularly on Conservative Home, said:

“I’m disgusted by Cameron’s blatant populism on this issue… I thought the candidates comments were well measured and reasonable actually… Cameron is in the last chance saloon, and he’s doing himself no favours with us rank and file party members.”

It has also emerged that Lardner has close links to another Scottish Tory candidate with disturbing views on gay rights and race. Richard Cook, even higher up in the Scottish Tories – can be seen sharing a joke with Lardner and the deputy leader of the Scottish Tories Murdo Fraser. Cook’s biography on the Conservative Party website lists him as “Director in Scotland of the Campaign Against Political Correctness”.

Yet he told the Record on Sunday that “he is no longer involved” in the group. The CAPC’s idea of humour can be seen here. Cook is also a big fan of “blacking up” - calling people who object to the practise “oversensitive” – and is an opponent of gay adoption, writing:

“It offends me greatly to see a system that benefited me so greatly abused by a local authority in the name of political correctness.”

He has been on official visits abroad with William Hague. He remains a Tory Party candidate.

http://twitter.com/john_jameson/status/13077917548 John Jameson

RT @leftfootfwd Tory MEP and councillors rally round sacked homophobe: http://bit.ly/dlw7d9 -bunch of bigots! Tories seem determined to lose
http://twitter.com/houseoftwits/status/13077573522 House Of Twits

RT @leftfootfwd Tory MEP and councillors rally round sacked homophobe: http://bit.ly/dlw7d9
http://twitter.com/bencooper86/status/13077612489 Ben Cooper

RT @leftfootfwd: Tory MEP and councillors rally round sacked homophobe: http://bit.ly/dlw7d9 < anyone suprised?
http://twitter.com/liberalseagull/status/13077748991 Kristofer Keane

Conservative Party wants Cameron to be homophobic: http://bit.ly/dlw7d9
http://twitter.com/ratemytory/status/13077814360 RateMyTory

RT @leftfootfwd Tory MEP and councillors rally round sacked homophobe: http://bit.ly/dlw7d9
http://twitter.com/peterptashko/status/13130153433 Peter Ptashko

What a sad sad party the Tories really are RT @leftfootfwd Tory MEP and councillors rally around sacked homophobe: http://bit.ly/dlw7d9
http://twitter.com/andy_s_64/status/13130296948 Andy Sutherland

RT @leftfootfwd: Tory MEP and councillors rally around sacked homophobe: http://bit.ly/dlw7d9
http://twitter.com/mistywabbit/status/13130504984 Rachael Mc

RT @leftfootfwd Tory MEP and councillors rally around sacked homophobe: http://bit.ly/dlw7d9
http://twitter.com/mcgregormt/status/13130918563 Matthew McGregor

Yikes – Tories attack lack of tolerance for homphobes in their party http://bit.ly/c8AKL2 (via @leftfootforward)
http://twitter.com/maximmanchester/status/13131036073 Max

@leftfootfwd Tory MEP and councillors rally around sacked homophobe: http://bit.ly/dlw7d9 >> Shows that bigots are still majority of Tories
http://twitter.com/jon2aylor/status/13131851233 Jonathan Taylor

RT @leftfootfwd: Tory MEP and councillors rally around sacked homophobe: http://bit.ly/dlw7d9
http://twitter.com/johnhalton/status/13132044892 johnhalton

RT @leftfootfwd: Tory MEP and councillors rally around sacked homophobe: http://bit.ly/dlw7d9
http://twitter.com/aseculargay/status/13132211638 Secular Gay

RT @leftfootfwd: Tory MEP and councillors rally around sacked homophobe: http://bit.ly/dlw7d9
http://twitter.com/aseculargay/status/13132211638 Secular Gay

RT @leftfootfwd: Tory MEP and councillors rally around sacked homophobe: http://bit.ly/dlw7d9
http://twitter.com/jodyraynsford/status/13132268232 Jody Raynsford

RT @leftfootfwd: Tory MEP and councillors rally around sacked homophobe: http://bit.ly/dlw7d9
http://twitter.com/houseoftwits/status/13130121935 House Of Twits

RT @leftfootfwd Tory MEP and councillors rally around sacked homophobe: http://bit.ly/dlw7d9
http://twitter.com/robotpunk/status/13130169949 Isaac

RT @leftfootfwd: Tory MEP and councillors rally around sacked homophobe: http://bit.ly/dlw7d9
giles bradshaw

Are you saying that all the people who have voiced support for this man should be sacked?
http://twitter.com/richardangell/status/13134401090 Richard Angell

Shame! RT @leftfootfwd: Tory MEP and councillors rally around sacked homophobe: http://bit.ly/dlw7d9
http://twitter.com/dhothersall/status/13134592430 Duncan Hothersall

The Real Conservative party: http://bit.ly/c8AKL2 – still indignant that homophobia is unacceptable. #sameoldtories #ge2010 #ge10
http://twitter.com/johnhalton/status/13132044892 johnhalton

RT @leftfootfwd: Tory MEP and councillors rally around sacked homophobe: http://bit.ly/dlw7d9
http://twitter.com/johnhalton/status/13132044892 johnhalton

RT @leftfootfwd: Tory MEP and councillors rally around sacked homophobe: http://bit.ly/dlw7d9
http://twitter.com/jasoncharlton/status/13132093614 JASON CHARLTON

RT @leftfootfwd: Tory MEP and councillors rally around sacked homophobe: http://bit.ly/dlw7d9
http://twitter.com/jasoncharlton/status/13132093614 JASON CHARLTON

RT @leftfootfwd: Tory MEP and councillors rally around sacked homophobe: http://bit.ly/dlw7d9
http://twitter.com/bloggerheads/status/13132120520 Tim Ireland

RT @leftfootfwd: Tory MEP and councillors rally around sacked homophobe: http://bit.ly/dlw7d9
http://twitter.com/bloggerheads/status/13132120520 Tim Ireland

RT @leftfootfwd: Tory MEP and councillors rally around sacked homophobe: http://bit.ly/dlw7d9
Bobofinch

Homophobic incitement is a crimincal offence….No?
http://bestblogs.labourhome.org/2010/04/30/tory-mep-and-councillors-rally-around-sacked-homophobe/ Tory MEP and councillors rally around sacked homophobe « The best Labour blogs

[...] More… [...]
http://twitter.com/bucktaylor64/status/13137586312 Andy Buckley-Taylor

RT @leftfootfwd: Tory MEP and councillors rally around sacked homophobe: http://bit.ly/dlw7d9
http://twitter.com/austinwrk/status/13137677282 AuzK

RT @leftfootfwd: Tory MEP and councillors rally around sacked homophobe http://bit.ly/dlw7d9
http://twitter.com/bencooper86/status/13143592424 Ben Cooper

RT @LGBTLabour: Tories rally in defence of homophobia! > RT @leftfootfwd Tory MEP & cllrs rally around sacked homophobe: http://bit.ly/dlw7d9 #SameOldTories
http://twitter.com/steve_newsome/status/13143820546 Steve Newsome

RT @LGBTLabour: Tories rally in defence of homophobia! > RT @leftfootfwd Tory MEP & cllrs rally around sacked homophobe: http://bit.ly/dlw7d9 #SameOldTories
http://twitter.com/wenchgirl5/status/13144045673 Ellie Hunter

RT @LGBTLabour: Tories rally in defence of homophobia! > RT @leftfootfwd Tory MEP & cllrs rally around sacked homophobe: http://bit.ly/dlw7d9 #SameOldTories
http://twitter.com/jamesasser/status/13145846810 James Asser

RT @LGBTLabour Tories rally in defence of homophobia! > RT @leftfootfwd Tory MEP & cllrs rally around sacked homophobe: http://bit.ly/dlw7d9
http://twitter.com/lgbtlabour/status/13143408310 LGBT Labour

Tories rally in defence of homophobia! > RT @leftfootfwd Tory MEP & cllrs rally around sacked homophobe: http://bit.ly/dlw7d9 #SameOldTories
http://twitter.com/labour_can_win/status/13143526444 Donovan Clarkson

RT @LGBTLabour: Tories rally in defence of homophobia! > RT @leftfootfwd Tory MEP & cllrs rally around sacked homophobe: http://bit.ly/dlw7d9 #SameOldTories
http://twitter.com/startleft/status/13143791594 Rezina

RT @LGBTLabour: Tories rally in defence of homophobia! > RT @leftfootfwd Tory MEP & cllrs rally around sacked homophobe: http://bit.ly/dlw7d9 #SameOldTories
Mr. Sensible

Same Old Tories!
Liz McShane

I wonder what Sean Sullivan Tory candidate for Tottenham thinks of this…..
http://twitter.com/aubs67/status/13176628749 aubrey flux

RT @leftfootfwd: Tory MEP and councillors rally around sacked homophobe: http://bit.ly/dlw7d9
http://twitter.com/paul0evans1/status/13178773824 Paul Evans

Tory MEP and councillors rally around sacked homophobe http://bit.ly/d4cMKY
http://twitter.com/reallibs/status/13216289226 realLibs

RT @LGBTLabour: Tories rally in defence of homophobia! > RT @leftfootfwd Tory MEP & cllrs rally around sacked homophobe: http://bit.ly/dlw7d9 #SameOldTories
http://twitter.com/robofw9/status/13358953222 Rob Cope

RT @leftfootfwd: Tory MEP and councillors rally around sacked homophobe http://bit.ly/dlw7d9