Tory Party fractures open up over gay 'marriage'
I'm no bigot - I once fought a gay boxer, says Tory MP David Davies
Conservative MP David Davies has claimed he cannot be prejudiced against homosexual people because he once "fought a gay boxer".
Quote:
Originally Posted by Telegraph
David Davies, a Tory MP for Monmouth, denied he was bigoted, after he was criticised for saying “most parents” would prefer to not to have homosexual children.
The MP made the controversial comments on BBC Wales on Sunday, as he argued that plans to allow same-sex marriage are "barking mad".
The remarks were attacked by gay rights activists and a number of celebrities but Mr Davies today told campaigners to "calm down" and "listen to other views".
On his Twitter account, the MP said he respects, likes and trained with a gay boxer after they fought in the ring, so he cannot be bigoted.
The MP said he was not suggesting parents do not want their gay children and urged activists to stop "condemning" him for things he did not say.
Mr Davies also posted a video of himself fighting the boxer, known as Charles 'Pink Pounder' Jones.
He said: "I think most people are very tolerant and have no problem at all if people are gay but, and I hate to say this in a way because I expect it's going to cause controversy, but I think most parents would prefer their children not to be gay, knowing most parents want grandchildren if nothing else."
Mr Davies is one of a number of Conservative backbenchers to speak out against same-sex marriage in recent weeks.
Stewart Jackson, a Tory MP, said condemned the "arrogant" Prime Minister for pushing through plans that risk alienating the Conservative Party grassroots.
Critics of Mr Cameron’s plans say that they will actually bring the party few new votes while alienating a much larger number of its existing backers.
Mr Davies said: “We're going to lose a large number of very loyal activists who've gone out and campaigned for us over the years and who don't like this idea, so politically it's barking mad”
He said that existing laws allowing same-sex couples to have civil partnerships could be changed to ensure full equality without going as far as church weddings. “I really don't know why we need to go ahead with this at all.”
However, many Conservative advocates of the same-sex marriage plan is an essential part of changing the party’s image in the eyes of some voters, who regard Tories as intolerant.
Shock horror, Tory MP tells truth and is hounded for it. The truth? that most parents by far wouldn't want their children to be gay for a number of reasons, that they don't agree with it/no grandchildren and other reasons.
As for gay 'marriage' - it's almost as though Cameron is trying to destroy the Conservative Party and we've just had Sir John Major, 'right wing' Boris Johnson and 'right wing' Michael Gove back the proposals. In relation to social conservatives in the party, there's not much more you could do to have them leave than to force through gay 'marriage'. Back at Conference last year, an important but uncovered event occurred - a large number of the Conservative conference stood up and walked out when Cameron started talking about gay 'marriage'. Now, had this been the other way around then the media almost certainly would have covered it.
The ineffective and useless Tory Party steps closer to it's impending collapse, not that i'm complaining as it won't be missed.
Thoughts?
