in the news
from February 2006

Following a deeply homophobic campaign during last year's General Election Dewsbury Conservatives have been at it again.

On the day that civil partnership's for lesbians and gay men became law leading Tory Councillor Khizar Iqbal (pictured) launched a ferocious attack on the new legislation warning of grave consequences. He stated: ‘This government are simply creating a nanny state controlling lives and underming family values and principles. The abolishment of Section 28 of the Local Government Act paved the way for homosexuality and gay propaganda to be promoted in our schools and now gay couples are able to marry.’

He followed up this attack by a call for the abolition of all sex education in schools.

Whilst most of the rest of the country was busy celebrating the new legislation Dewsbury Tories decided to spoil the party by this unbridled attack. It also got a much wider platform as the Yorkshire Evening Post made it their lead story in many editions.

Boundary changes make the Dewsbury Parliamentary seat much more winnable at the next general election. If David Cameron is serious in trying to convince us that the Tory Party has changed he needs to sort out this kind of bigotry without delay.

John Rossington