Hornsey and Wood Green MP Lynne Featherstone gets ministerial role

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Permalink Reply by pamish on May 15, 2010 at 14:19

Good luck to Lynne trying to get Theresa May to understand very basic Equalities issues. May is on record as anti-feminist and homphobic. The Dave+Nick show must have been having a laff.

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Permalink Reply by Mr Growbag on May 15, 2010 at 15:21

No, she's on facebook as homophobic and anti-feminist. There is a difference. The Pink News, which broke the story using her voting record from They Work For You.com described her voting record as "mixed". Whilst she's definitely voted against some gay equality legislation, she did also vote for the Civil Partnerships Act.

Ruth Kelly, a previous equalities minister had a voting record on gay rights only marginally less patchy.

Maybe see what she does in post (she's only been minister 2 days or so!) before calling for her head on a plate? Plus, people should bear in mind that she's also Home Secretary - one of the most demanding cabinet roles - so in practice I imagine Lynne Featherstone will end up covering the majority of the equalities portfolio...

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Permalink Reply by pamish on May 16, 2010 at 21:49

May's voting record:
Prior to this appointment her voting record on gay rights has included
- Voting against repealing section 28
- Voting against lowering the age of consent in homosexual relationships to 16
- Voting against gay adoption rights

That's her off my Wintermiddle card list.

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Permalink Reply by Maddy on May 15, 2010 at 18:53

She's already been in the Guardian criticising the new cabinet as too "pale and male" - rather a case of biting the hand that feeds her, but fair play to her.

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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on May 15, 2010 at 19:01

If Lynne can make progress on this in a Conservative dominated Cabinet, then she will have made real progress. And in that difficult situation, I can't think of anyone more likely to succeed.

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Permalink Reply by John McMullan on May 16, 2010 at 22:02

I wonder if Lynne will be able to twist her bosses arm to have her constituent's impending extradition stopped.

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Permalink Reply by PeterPiper on May 17, 2010 at 10:10

Well, I saw both Nick Clegg and Chris Hulme at a "Save Gary McKinnon from Extradition" demo outside the Home Office before Christmas, offering their support to Gary's mother.

Let's hope that the LBs can bring their influences to bear - May 21st will be an early test for the LBs, and how much they can develop policy in the coalition, going forward.

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