Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable calls for same-sex couples on Strictly Come Dancing

A former Strictly Come Dancing contestant who became Lib Dem leader has called on the BBC to allow same-sex dance partners.

Sir Vince Cable, who served as Business Secretary from 2010 to 2015, says same-sex pairings should be accepted.

The politician appeared on Strictly’s Christmas special in 2010, when he was criticised for “leaning to the right” during a foxtrot.

He told ITV Scotland: “I’ve absolutely no problem with it.

“Actually you see that at Blackpool in the competitions I’ve been in – usually women with women, but sometimes men with men, why not?”

The ballroom enthusiast, who was returned to parliament in 2017 after being voted out two years earlier, said he already dances with other men himself.

“I do occasionally, I dance with my teacher, who is man,” he continued.

NEW: @LibDems leader @vincecable backs same sex couples on Strictly Come Dancing & says he'll dance with @timfarron and @jeremycorbyn. #SCD pic.twitter.com/4PEScfvniF

— Joe Pike (@joepike) September 16, 2017

Sir Vince became leader of the Liberal Democrats over summer, following the resignation of Tim Farron – who quit in the wake of a row over his views on gay sex.

RELATED: What is Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable’s voting record on LGBT rights?

His comments come after a row broke out over lesbian contestant Susan Calman’s decision to dance with a man.

The comic and presenter, who is married to a woman, defended her decision to be an opposite sex pairing, saying it has no reflection on her support for LGBT rights.

Judge Rinder, a gay contestant on the 2016 series, said people calling for same-sex dance partners in the name of equality were “not serious”.