CONSERVATIVES CHAMPION GAY EQUALITY

Shadow Cabinet member Nick Herbert, has today spoken about the Conservative Party's promotion of gay equality.
Nick said "For the modern Conservative Party, embracing gay equality is neither a temporary phenomenon, nor an agenda which can be reversed".
In the UK, all three major political parties are now assuring gay people that it's safe to vote for them. Typically, far from taking pleasure in this new consensus, the Left has greeted it with dismay. For over a decade they have sought to build a client state, where groups are beholden to their generosity. And now they want to open up 'clear pink water' between themselves and the Conservative Party.
There's an election coming, and it suits our opponents to argue that we haven't changed. But we self-evidently have changed. The truth is that there are millions of people who we drove away but who share our values and want to join us.
Gay people are not the property of the Left, or of any party.
They are not an interest group or a political commodity to be traded.
They are not vessels for votes.
Gay people are motivated by the same issues as any other voter.
They will vote for the political party which best sits with their views - so long as that party does not make itself taboo.

He went on to say that the Conservative Party advocating Civil Partnerships and gay equality to other countries may come as a surprise to some, but it is in tune with our beliefs, thinking and aspirations.
Under the leadership of David Cameron, the British Conservative Party has gone further in supporting gay equality than other centre-right parties in similar countries and the Party is now taking the case for greater equality to America, in particular highlighting the benefits of civil partnerships.
Nick Herbert discussed the issue on the Today programme this morning and is due to give a speech in Washington D.C. later today on the subject.
I am in full agreement with Nick. Brighton has a vibrant gay community who play an important part in the life and work of our City.