It was 24 years ago today that parliament passed legislation making section 28 law. Fifteen years later Labour were able to repeal this nasty discriminatory law despite fierce Tory opposition.
Last week I asked Sir George Young about this matter and he failed to answer my question; this morning the government’s position has become clear. The prime minister, faced with a growing revolt in the cabinet, has decided to grant those opposed to equal marriage a free vote. This means that the government’s flagship policy on equal rights will only become law with Labour support.
Meanwhile, as Steve Hilton jetted off to California, his leaving gift – a copy of the Beecroft report – has caused uproar. It is the worst attack on workplace protection in a generation. It took less than a day for No 10 to brief the Telegraph:
‘No one really has any idea what went on with this report, it was very much Steve Hilton’s project. The whole thing is a bit dodgy and we wish it had never happened’
As Liberal Democrat and Conservative ministers argued over the report, its author attacked the business secretary by calling him a socialist. Only a hedge fund boss and Tory donor could call someone who voted for a tax cut for the richest one per cent a socialist.
In parliament I asked the leader of the House to confirm that the enterprise and regulatory reform bill, the first bill we will adress after recess, will not be used to implement any of the disgraceful policies advocated by the report.
The Liberal Democrat problem of campaigning for something in the consituency and voting against it in parliament has clearly become contagious. Four Conservative MPs and one Lib Dem were found to have presented petitions against the caravan tax, but then when Labour forced a vote against the caravan tax they all voted with the government.
Last week government ministers were complaining that the country hasn’t been working hard enough. You do have to wonder what planet they’re on?
Families up and down the country are struggling to make ends meet, worried about job security, worried about how they will afford rising fuel and food bills and angry that the government is doing nothing to help. These ministers clearly need to take a look at the PM; his aides say he spends: ‘a crazy, scary amount of time playing fruit ninja’.
No wonder the economy is in such a mess, we have a chancellor who is trying to do two jobs – both badly – while the prime minister fills his time slicing fruit on his iPad.
Today we find that the double-dip recession is deeper than thought and yet the Conservative party spend their time fighting among themselves over equal marriage and House of Lords reform. Instead of losing his temper and ranting at the despatch box the prime minister should just get a grip.
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Angela Eagle is MP for Wallasey, shadow leader of the Commons and writes the weekly Business of Parliament column for Progress