Politics

David Wilshire MP has referred himself to parliament's sleaze watchdog after reports that he had used expenses to pay over £100,000 to a firm he owned.

In 1987 Wilshire designed Section 28 after seeing  a childeren’s book about a gay couple. The amendment he introduced to the local government act made it illegal to “promote in any maintained school the acceptability of homosexuality”. He claims it was only to save tax payers money. 

In a statement the MP for Spelthorne in Surrey said he was confident he would be cleared of any wrongdoing by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner, but said he was quitting for the sake of his party.

He has made a statement, "The allegations made in today's Telegraph are deeply hurtful and unjustified. However, my constituents rightly want reassurance and the truth, these allegations also run the risk of harming my local party and our national party's chances of winning at the next General Election."

Read more: Section 28 MP may have to repay £100,000 expense claim

The Parliamentary recess ended for the Government of Gibraltar today and they set out the legislation for the new parliamentary term. In total, 13 pieces of legislation will be considered however the Same Sex Equalisation bill isn't on the legislative program.

Male homosexuality has only been legal since 1993 in Gibraltar with the age of consent at 18. In contrast the age of consent for lesbians and heterosexuals is 16.

Spokesperson for the South West Green Party on LGBT Issues Ryan Cleminson has commented, "I am disappointed that the bill tabled by Daniel Feetham hasn't been listed as a pending matter on the new legislative timetable, It's an important bill and for it not to be on the timetable of the new parliament is a grave misjudgment. It just shows how important LGBT equalities are to the Government of Gibraltar".

Read more: Gibraltar Lagging Behind in Gay Rights

Ben Summerskill, head of the gay rights group Stonewall, has pulled out of a fringe event at the Conservative party conference. 

He had been lined up as the main speaker at an event in Manchester's gay village, but Channel 4 News has reported that he will not be attending. 

"There is no doubt the progress that has been made in the last couple of years has genuinely been historic. It would churlish of anyone not to welcome the apology a couple of months ago over Section 28," said Summerskill.

"But the event tonight has been overshadowed by the presence, not just at conference but on the same platform as some senior members of the party, of people of such extreme and offensive views. And certainly there are people I've spoken to at the conference today, not just gay people but Jewish delegates as well, who share that viewpoint."

Read more: Stonewall Withdraw Support from Conservative Event

“David Cameron is all talk and no action on gay rights", says human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell of LGBT group OutRage!

"I challenge him to back up his gay-friendly words with concrete policies to end the remaining vestiges of homophobic discrimination. So far, he has not promised a single new policy for gay equality,” 

Mr Tatchell was speaking on the opening day of the Tory party annual conference, which is taking place in Manchester.

“The Conservatives will never be taken seriously as defenders of gay human rights unless they promise concrete policies for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. We don’t know what a Tory government would do because David Cameron offers only vague generalities, not policy specifics,” added Mr Tatchell.

“Mr Cameron has a poor voting record on gay issues. Only last year voted to deny lesbian couples equal access to IVF fertility treatment. In 2003, he voted to retain Section 28.

Read more: David Cameron - all talk and no action?

The Green Party LGBTIQ group has been busy re-designing their website. With the help of Dave Walsh who  has put a lot of work into the site, the new site will bring all the Greens LGBTIQ groups together on one website. It also incorporates all current MEP's. The site is aimed at those people who may wish to follow what their MEP's are doing in the way of LGBTIQ rights.

The Group's Media officer Ryan Cleminson said this of the new website, " The website is a great addition to the work of many people not just locally but regionally and at a National level as well. In todays age of technology I feel our website will help us engage and spread our message easily to the community locally regionally and nationally."

Visitors to the website will also be able to sign up to receive the latest news from the LGBTIQ Greens wherever they live in the country.

Read more: New Website for Gay Greens Launched