Tories auction stay at hotel owned by anti-gay Sultan of Brunei
The Conservative Party held its annual Black and White Ball this week, and auctioned off a stay at a hotel owned by the Sultan of Brunei, despite ongoing boycotts of the chain due to a new law which allows gay people to be stoned to death.
The ball, which included a silent auction, was held at the five star Grosvenor House Hotel on Monday, and was to raise funds for the party ahead of this May’s General Election.
One of the lots at the auction was “A Stay for two, to include breakfast in the Michelin starred restaurant, at the famous Park Lane Dorchester Hotel.”
The lot read that it was “ideal for those wanting a romantic break at this superb hotel overlooking Hyde Park.”
The Dorchester Collection, owned by the Sultan of Brunei, is facing boycotts after the Sultan passed a change to the penal code, calling for gays to be stoned to death.
Stephen Fry has said he would cancel his reservations with a Brunei-owned hotel chain, and an LGBT philanthropist conference opted to cancel its booking with the group’s luxury Beverly Hills Hotel.
Designers Peter Som and Brian Atwood also said they would move Fashion Week events away from the chain.
Before the passage of the new law, same-sex sexual activity was punishable in the Islamic state with up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
The Conservative Party has not returned a call for comment from PinkNews.
