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| Tories relax stance on gay rights The Conservative Party has signalled a change in its approach to gay issues by calling for homosexual partners to be given some of the legal rights held by married couples. The shift, part of the ongoing Tory drive to rehabilitate itself with the electorate, was praised by former party vice-chairman Steven Norris as a welcome step forward after the tone set during the Hague years. Shadow home secretary Oliver Letwin said the Conservatives believe in marriage on practical grounds because it protects children but gay couples who could not marry had real grievances. He wants issues to be addressed such as the right to be consulted if one partner needed a life-threatening operation, as well as rights to inherit assets or the tenancy of homes. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Letwin said: "Those of us who are heterosexual have the choice to marry and Conservatives believe that people should exercise that choice if they want any of the rights and benefits. "But homosexuals can't marry. We don't want to create a pale imitation of marriage, but we do recognise that there are real grievances." The shadow home secretary said the Conservatives did not want to see gay weddings, nor did they favour other similar types of ceremonies. Politicians should not pontificate on morality, argued Mr Letwin, who said his proposals were for practical, not moral reasons. Under William Hague's Tory leadership, the party strongly opposed government attempts to abolish Section 28, which outlawed the "promotion" of homosexuality in schools. Mr Norris was pleased the party was now moving to a more "relaxed and sensible" approach to homosexuality, especially if it tapped what he believes is potential support among gay voters. But he warned: "I fear altering the tone is not enough. Unless the Tories drop Section 28 they will not be taken seriously." Asked whether he could imagine someone like Baroness Young - a leading opponent of dropping S28 - would be likely to stay in a Conservative party more tolerant of homosexuality Mr Norris said it might be a price worth paying. He said it would be "a price I would hate to pay". But he suggested that Baroness Young would be left with few political options, "if she believes that it is unsupportable to stay in the Conservative Party. " Apart from the British National Party, I don't think there is a party that is excitable about people's personal sexuality." A spokeswoman for Baroness Young said she did not want to comment until she had seen the Conservative announcement. The Tory peer has, however, launched an attack on a bill that would give gay and unmarried heterosexual couples many of the same legal rights as married people. The bill, proposed by Liberal Democrat peer, Lord Lester, would see the establishment of "civil partnerships", provides for the registration of the partnership and sets out the ensuing legal consequences. Backed by gay rights group Stonewall, the bill, which gets its second reading in the House of Lords on Friday, also contains a provision for terminating such partnerships. Currently the rights enjoyed by married couples, such as the automatic right of inheritance in the event of a spouse dying in testate or the right of succession to certain tenancies and to pension funds, are denied to non-married couples. Lady Young said the bill makes civil partnerships "indistinguishable from marriage in virtually all respects". "I believe that as soon as marriage is equated with other arrangements, such as cohabitation, it is downgraded." 25th January 2002 |
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