Tory candidate may lose job over ‘homophobic’ comments

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Philip Lardner, the Scottish Conservative candidate who said homosexuality was “not normal”, may lose his job.

He has already been suspended by the Conservative Party.

Mr Lardner works as a primary school teacher at Rashielea Primary in Erskine, Renfrewshire, but was suspended after the remarks on his campaign website came to light.

He is reportedly being investigated to see if he has broken the local council’s hate crime policies.

Mr Lardner wrote on his website that “most” people agree that homosexuality is wrong, that it is not normal and that children should not be “encouraged” to “indulge” in it. He also gave his support to Section 28, the repealed law which banned promotion of homosexuality in schools.

He was told by Scottish Conservative Party officials to remove the comments on Tuesday but has now re-posted them.

Yesterday, he defended his remarks and accused Tory leader David Cameron of pushing Christians out of the party.

He told STV: “David Cameron appears to be saying there is no place in the party for anyone with Christian beliefs.

“I believe ordinary people are sick and tired of political correctness. This is still a broadly Christian country, and I believe parents should have the right to oppose the promotion of homosexuality in schools.

“By suspending me as a Tory, David Cameron appears to be saying there is no place in the party for anyone with Christian beliefs.”

Mr Lardner can still stand as a candidate for North Ayrshire and Arran because it is too late to remove his name from ballot papers.

He was suspended from the Conservative Party this week but signalled his intent to stand as a independent candidate.

He was selected by the Conservative Party to challenge the seat despite being suspended by the party in 2008.

He had called the racist former leader of Rhodesia Ian Smith his hero and defended Enoch Powell, saying that “in a small way “, the former Tory shadow minister had been right on immigration.

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