Comments on: Gordon Brown writes to gay community ahead of Pride http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12971.html/ PinkNews.co.uk Gay News (UK and world) from Pink News - all the gay news for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community in the UK and beyond- thegaynews from Pink News Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:41:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: TomPaine http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12971.html/comment-page-1/#comment-60501 TomPaine Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:02:24 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12971.html#comment-60501 PS THe Labour party DID NOT help lift the ban on gays in the forces. That was forced on them by the European Court of Human Rights - and even then, the defence minister grudgingly accepted it saying 'the law is the law'. Labour happened to be in office at the time, that's all. How dare he take credit for it. having said that, Labour can still do some good: reform the House of Lords, send unelected, unrepresentative faith leaders packing. PS THe Labour party DID NOT help lift the ban on gays in the forces. That was forced on them by the European Court of Human Rights – and even then, the defence minister grudgingly accepted it saying 'the law is the law'. Labour happened to be in office at the time, that's all. How dare he take credit for it.

having said that, Labour can still do some good: reform the House of Lords, send unelected, unrepresentative faith leaders packing.

(Report comment to the moderator)

]]> By: gendy http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12971.html/comment-page-1/#comment-59945 gendy Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:30:48 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12971.html#comment-59945 What a lousy hypocrite this man is!he has never voted for a single item of gay equality legilation in the House of Commons.Me?- I watched the November 2004 debate on the Civil Partnerships Act on the Parliamentary Channel and the Labour side were abysmal in their presentation..they were bored and disinterested.The Tories advocates principally Alan Duncan and Charles Hendry were brilliant especially in talking down the Tory catholics like Widdecombe and Leigh.Frankly it was the Tories wot won it! Brown is utterly insincere and just a low confidence trickster ..!"An end to boom & bust".."Prudence"...don't believe a word. What a lousy hypocrite this man is!he has never voted for a single item of gay equality legilation in the House of Commons.Me?- I watched the November 2004 debate on the Civil Partnerships Act on the Parliamentary Channel and the Labour side were abysmal in their presentation..they were bored and disinterested.The Tories advocates principally Alan Duncan and Charles Hendry were brilliant especially in talking down the Tory catholics like Widdecombe and Leigh.Frankly it was the Tories wot won it!

Brown is utterly insincere and just a low confidence trickster ..!"An end to boom & bust".."Prudence"…don't believe a word.

(Report comment to the moderator)

]]> By: clarkm http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12971.html/comment-page-1/#comment-59942 clarkm Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:49:38 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12971.html#comment-59942 Wanna know more 18 only sexy girls or beautiful women? just join the best big&tall dating club _____Tallconnect.com____ , have a try. Wanna know more 18 only sexy girls or beautiful women? just join the best big&tall dating club _____Tallconnect.com____ , have a try.

(Report comment to the moderator)

]]> By: Lezabella http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12971.html/comment-page-1/#comment-59935 Lezabella Mon, 29 Jun 2009 07:46:05 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12971.html#comment-59935 I vote for Labour because I feel they represent my values more than any of the other parties. However, they are far, far, from perfect and I'm aware of it. I vote for Labour because I feel they represent my values more than any of the other parties.

However, they are far, far, from perfect and I'm aware of it.

(Report comment to the moderator)

]]> By: Stevie C http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12971.html/comment-page-1/#comment-59932 Stevie C Mon, 29 Jun 2009 04:54:08 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12971.html#comment-59932 nuclear power plants aren't the most green solution, but they are grenner than say, a coal fired plant. all the major parties have been exposed to have their hand in the till, but are the smaller parties (ie: Greens) any different? time will tell. nuclear power plants aren't the most green solution, but they are grenner than say, a coal fired plant. all the major parties have been exposed to have their hand in the till, but are the smaller parties (ie: Greens) any different? time will tell.

(Report comment to the moderator)

]]> By: Mike http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12971.html/comment-page-1/#comment-59907 Mike Sun, 28 Jun 2009 18:04:05 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12971.html#comment-59907 I second RobN's comments. In the six years I've been legally allowed to vote I've only ever voted Lib Dem and latterly Green. Neither have ever won in my constituency (although the Greens came close in the Euro elections - just beaten by the pesky neo-fascists). While Labour should be my natural party, I could never vote for them in their present form, even if they have been nice to gays since '97. I second RobN's comments. In the six years I've been legally allowed to vote I've only ever voted Lib Dem and latterly Green. Neither have ever won in my constituency (although the Greens came close in the Euro elections – just beaten by the pesky neo-fascists).

While Labour should be my natural party, I could never vote for them in their present form, even if they have been nice to gays since '97.

(Report comment to the moderator)

]]> By: RobN http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12971.html/comment-page-1/#comment-59906 RobN Sun, 28 Jun 2009 17:37:25 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12971.html#comment-59906 Valario: "I don't see how an LGBT person who cares for LGBT issues could vote for anyone other than Labour." You are a moron. There are many other issues way more important than LGBT ones. Secondly, until people start voting for the "small guys" nothing is going to change, it will just continue to be Labour and Conservative governments flip-flopping with LibDems nipping at their heels. PR would make a huge difference, but it's just not going to happen unless there are some major governmental reforms, and the current climate is probably the best chance anyone is going to get in our lifetime to actually make a major sea-change. Vote for the people you *want*, not the ones you think will get in. Valario: "I don't see how an LGBT person who cares for LGBT issues could vote for anyone other than Labour."

You are a moron. There are many other issues way more important than LGBT ones. Secondly, until people start voting for the "small guys" nothing is going to change, it will just continue to be Labour and Conservative governments flip-flopping with LibDems nipping at their heels. PR would make a huge difference, but it's just not going to happen unless there are some major governmental reforms, and the current climate is probably the best chance anyone is going to get in our lifetime to actually make a major sea-change.

Vote for the people you *want*, not the ones you think will get in.

(Report comment to the moderator)

]]> By: Robert, ex-pat Brit http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12971.html/comment-page-1/#comment-59890 Robert, ex-pat Brit Sun, 28 Jun 2009 14:03:19 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12971.html#comment-59890 “We won’t ever give up on the fight for equality – we are marching with you every step of the way. The Labour government has one simple guiding ideal when it comes to LGBT rights: you can’t legislate love.” Nice try Brown, but what about allowing those of us who so choose, to marry instead of forming a civil partnership and how about allowing straights the same right to a partnership if they so choose instead of marrying? Maybe Cameron will take equality to another step, though I doubt it. “We won’t ever give up on the fight for equality – we are marching with you every step of the way. The Labour government has one simple guiding ideal when it comes to LGBT rights: you can’t legislate love.”

Nice try Brown, but what about allowing those of us who so choose, to marry instead of forming a civil partnership and how about allowing straights the same right to a partnership if they so choose instead of marrying? Maybe Cameron will take equality to another step, though I doubt it.

(Report comment to the moderator)

]]> By: Paul http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12971.html/comment-page-1/#comment-59888 Paul Sun, 28 Jun 2009 13:25:48 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12971.html#comment-59888 Well he's better than David Cameron, who would just take away our rights. Let's face it, he's not the worst prime minister ever, and in fact labour, well old labour, did some really good things. Shame they became greedy, now we have to go in circles again either until the Lib Dems muster up enough support or until labour or the tories gayen themselves out Well he's better than David Cameron, who would just take away our rights. Let's face it, he's not the worst prime minister ever, and in fact labour, well old labour, did some really good things. Shame they became greedy, now we have to go in circles again either until the Lib Dems muster up enough support or until labour or the tories gayen themselves out

(Report comment to the moderator)

]]> By: DFG http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12971.html/comment-page-1/#comment-59841 DFG Sat, 27 Jun 2009 12:33:41 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12971.html#comment-59841 Gee I hope it is one love step forward for humanity in the United Kingdom. Cheers Mate Gee

I hope it is one love step forward for humanity in the United Kingdom.

Cheers

Mate

(Report comment to the moderator)

]]> By: Brian Burton http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12971.html/comment-page-1/#comment-59836 Brian Burton Sat, 27 Jun 2009 11:50:53 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12971.html#comment-59836 Sister Mary Clarence, I have no argument with your comments really. Nomatter who takes up the helm, the task is (damned if yo do, damned if you don't) be all thing to all people! Thatcher left us with poll-tax riots and 'Bonking Major' telling me I would have to pay the poll-tax of those who refused to pay it. At present, we have Brown pretending he is everyones friend and giving the impression that he has the God given right to remain as Prime Minister. And so It will go on and on....! Sister Mary Clarence,
I have no argument with your comments really. Nomatter who takes up the helm, the task is (damned if yo do, damned if you don't) be all thing to all people! Thatcher left us with poll-tax riots and 'Bonking Major' telling me I would have to pay the poll-tax of those who refused to pay it. At present, we have Brown pretending he is everyones friend and giving the impression that he has the God given right to remain as Prime Minister. And so It will go on and on….!

(Report comment to the moderator)

]]> By: Sister Mary Clarence http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12971.html/comment-page-1/#comment-59835 Sister Mary Clarence Sat, 27 Jun 2009 11:42:37 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12971.html#comment-59835 They do come with a bit of an 'agenda' though don't they Jeff .... Can never really understand why they align themselves with Labour so often when Labour are talking about building more nuclear power stations. I appreciate that they have to prostitute their vote to lever some support for some of their own policies, but surely a great big nuclear power plant isn't the most environmentally friendly eco-solution to our energy needs? They do come with a bit of an 'agenda' though don't they Jeff ….

Can never really understand why they align themselves with Labour so often when Labour are talking about building more nuclear power stations. I appreciate that they have to prostitute their vote to lever some support for some of their own policies, but surely a great big nuclear power plant isn't the most environmentally friendly eco-solution to our energy needs?

(Report comment to the moderator)

]]> By: Jeff http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12971.html/comment-page-1/#comment-59834 Jeff Sat, 27 Jun 2009 11:34:33 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12971.html#comment-59834 If you're voting purely on LGBT issues, surely you should be voting for the Green Party. They've got the most progressive policies of all the parties. If you're voting purely on LGBT issues, surely you should be voting for the Green Party. They've got the most progressive policies of all the parties.

(Report comment to the moderator)

]]> By: Sister Mary Clarence http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12971.html/comment-page-1/#comment-59825 Sister Mary Clarence Sat, 27 Jun 2009 07:51:05 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12971.html#comment-59825 Riondo - I'm sorry, but it smacks of desperation. He knows only to well what New Labour to this country under the guardianship of Tony Blair, and he is trying to divert attention from the real issues that face everybody in this country today irrespective of sexuality. On the one hand I feel sorry for him that Blair threw him the keys of a locomotive that was running out of control and then jumped, but it was Gordon Brown's policies as Chancellor that ensured that we were in a weak position to weather the storm that he and he alone thought would never come. Well done though to Labour for eventually introducing Europe's equalities legislation, because not all countries in the Union have as yet embraced it - there's still a lot of work to do in some of the Eastern European countries. All credit to them for abiding by the ruling from the European Court forcing the government to admit gay men and women into the services. I hope if they are elected for another term, they will abide by a European directive to stop sending back asylum seekers to countries where they know they face torture and possibly death for their sexuality. I hope also that if elected in the next term they can start filling the pensions black hole that will see so many people, gay and straight, living destitute in their old age. It certainly will be a challenge when we they have plunged us into the largest amount of debt in the developed world. In a way Vulpus is right, it might appear at first glance that selling the gold reserve when gold was at a centuries low price was a little bit like bad business, when arguably it could have used to begin to plug the £130 billion pensions black hole caused after Gordon’s 1997 decision to scrap the dividend tax credit, instead of being used to subsidise a contrived, artificially buoyant economy over the last decade. Being a simple electorate though, we often don’t see the full picture and they’ve no doubt got a shrewd plan for rescuing us at the eleventh hour, well, maybe the twelfth hour now to be fair. Riondo – I'm sorry, but it smacks of desperation. He knows only to well what New Labour to this country under the guardianship of Tony Blair, and he is trying to divert attention from the real issues that face everybody in this country today irrespective of sexuality.

On the one hand I feel sorry for him that Blair threw him the keys of a locomotive that was running out of control and then jumped, but it was Gordon Brown's policies as Chancellor that ensured that we were in a weak position to weather the storm that he and he alone thought would never come.

Well done though to Labour for eventually introducing Europe's equalities legislation, because not all countries in the Union have as yet embraced it – there's still a lot of work to do in some of the Eastern European countries. All credit to them for abiding by the ruling from the European Court forcing the government to admit gay men and women into the services. I hope if they are elected for another term, they will abide by a European directive to stop sending back asylum seekers to countries where they know they face torture and possibly death for their sexuality.

I hope also that if elected in the next term they can start filling the pensions black hole that will see so many people, gay and straight, living destitute in their old age. It certainly will be a challenge when we they have plunged us into the largest amount of debt in the developed world.

In a way Vulpus is right, it might appear at first glance that selling the gold reserve when gold was at a centuries low price was a little bit like bad business, when arguably it could have used to begin to plug the £130 billion pensions black hole caused after Gordon’s 1997 decision to scrap the dividend tax credit, instead of being used to subsidise a contrived, artificially buoyant economy over the last decade. Being a simple electorate though, we often don’t see the full picture and they’ve no doubt got a shrewd plan for rescuing us at the eleventh hour, well, maybe the twelfth hour now to be fair.

(Report comment to the moderator)

]]> By: Brian Burton http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12971.html/comment-page-1/#comment-59817 Brian Burton Sat, 27 Jun 2009 05:44:10 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12971.html#comment-59817 Riondo, Well said, New Labour have advanced Gay rights etc. in the last few years. The Tory fold only advanced their own homophobic cause. Robn got it right when he called Gays 'Selfish Bastards' who look a gift horse in the mouth. The same sex by concenting adults Bill, was past in 1967 and my stomach changed from tight and tence, to relaxed when it finally happened. All gays walked with one foot in prison before 1967, so Gay people in the UK have a lot to be thankful for. Riondo,
Well said, New Labour have advanced Gay rights etc. in the last few years. The Tory fold only advanced their own homophobic cause.
Robn got it right when he called Gays 'Selfish Bastards' who look a gift horse in the mouth.
The same sex by concenting adults Bill, was past in 1967 and my stomach changed from tight and tence, to relaxed when it finally happened. All gays walked with one foot in prison before 1967, so Gay people in the UK have a lot to be thankful for.

(Report comment to the moderator)

]]> By: Gonzo http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12971.html/comment-page-1/#comment-59805 Gonzo Fri, 26 Jun 2009 22:13:25 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12971.html#comment-59805 "I don't see how an LGBT person who cares for LGBT issues could vote for anyone other than Labour." That's an utterly naive viewpoint. Civil partnerships and the equal age of consent are great, but I couldn't vote for a party that wants to introduce ID cards, renew the Trident nuclear missile system, puts unelected peers in government, abolished free university education, took part in an illegal, bloody war, promotes religious schools and has plunged future generations into endless debt through borrowing and PFI. "I don't see how an LGBT person who cares for LGBT issues could vote for anyone other than Labour."

That's an utterly naive viewpoint. Civil partnerships and the equal age of consent are great, but I couldn't vote for a party that wants to introduce ID cards, renew the Trident nuclear missile system, puts unelected peers in government, abolished free university education, took part in an illegal, bloody war, promotes religious schools and has plunged future generations into endless debt through borrowing and PFI.

(Report comment to the moderator)

]]> By: Abi1975 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12971.html/comment-page-1/#comment-59804 Abi1975 Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:23:33 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12971.html#comment-59804 The words just don't scan like they came from you Gordon nice try though. Still they will be less false than the drivel that will be coming from Boris and David Cameron down at the London assembly building at London Pride. The words just don't scan like they came from you Gordon nice try though.

Still they will be less false than the drivel that will be coming from Boris and David Cameron down at the London assembly building at London Pride.

(Report comment to the moderator)

]]> By: Gonzo http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12971.html/comment-page-1/#comment-59793 Gonzo Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:09:05 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12971.html#comment-59793 I'm still not voting for you Gordon. I'm still not voting for you Gordon.

(Report comment to the moderator)

]]> By: valerio http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12971.html/comment-page-1/#comment-59789 valerio Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:21:12 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12971.html#comment-59789 Whatever you think of Mr Brown, it is undisputed that Labour has done more for LGBT rights since they've been in power than anyone before them. Unless the current FPTP electoral system is changed to allow some degree of proportional representation, smaller parties don't have a shot in hell to be in government and I don't see how an LGBT person who cares for LGBT issues could vote for anyone other than Labour. Whatever you think of Mr Brown, it is undisputed that Labour has done more for LGBT rights since they've been in power than anyone before them.

Unless the current FPTP electoral system is changed to allow some degree of proportional representation, smaller parties don't have a shot in hell to be in government and I don't see how an LGBT person who cares for LGBT issues could vote for anyone other than Labour.

(Report comment to the moderator)

]]> By: Riondo http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12971.html/comment-page-1/#comment-59782 Riondo Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:39:44 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12971.html#comment-59782 Stop all the carping for once! A message like this from a sitting Prime Minister would have been unimaginable when I was younger. There is a great deal left to do, nobody can deny it, but the reforms of the last decade have been extraordinary. For all its follies and vices, New Labour is responsible for huge progress for lgbt people. Stop all the carping for once! A message like this from a sitting Prime Minister would have been unimaginable when I was younger. There is a great deal left to do, nobody can deny it, but the reforms of the last decade have been extraordinary. For all its follies and vices, New Labour is responsible for huge progress for lgbt people.

(Report comment to the moderator)

]]>