The British Prime Minister, Mr Blair, yesterday branded the controversial Section 28 - banning the "promotion" of homosexuality in schools - as a "piece of prejudice" and reaffirmed his government's commitment to repeal it. But Tory MPs jeered as he failed to give the Liberal Democrat Leader, Mr Charles Kennedy, a precise commitment as to when.
Following the government's defeat by the House of Lords on Monday, the Conservative leader, Mr William Hague, said the Lords had "more genuinely reflected public opinion" on the issue. And borrowing from the language used in last week's leaked Labour memo, the Tory leader taunted Mr Blair, suggesting he was "out of touch with gut British instincts". But as Home Office ministers unveiled proposals for radical reforms of Britain's sex laws, the prime minister accused Mr Hague of "pandering to prejudice", adding that it was "not a pretty sight". Mr Blair told MPs Section 28 was now "a piece of prejudice, pure and simple", and that he would "hold to" the commitment to see it abolished.
Meanwhile, Mr Blair and the Home Secretary, Mr Jack Straw, seemed certain to face a fresh storm of protest over a review panel's proposals to scrap existing laws discriminating against gay men and women. "A man and a man - or a woman and a woman - kissing and holding hands in public should be no more criminalised than a man and a woman behaving in the same way," urged the report, on which ministers will now consult. The review, chaired by Ms Betty Moxon, would increase protection for children and other vulnerable people, introduce a new offence of "familial" sex abuse, and change the laws on rape - making it more difficult for an accused person to claim "consent" while stopping short of changing the balance of proof.
Homosexuality, the family, asylum, crime and Tory commitments to cut spending dominated the final encounter between Mr Blair and Mr Hague before the summer recess. But the Commons show was stolen by a valedictory statement from the Speaker of the Commons, Ms Betty Boothroyd, who urged MPs to "rejoice in your inheritance and defend your rights". MPs applauded and waved their Order Papers in an emotional farewell, after hearing Ms Boothroyd remind them of their duty to "hold the Executive to account", and challenge them to reverse growing public cynicism about the political process.
Michael Holden adds:
The public relations guru, Mr Max Clifford, denied yesterday he had been involved in leaking internal Labour government memos because of a falling out with the party.
The Guardian reported that Mr Clifford, who contributed towards the downfall of the last Conservative government by exposing a series of sex and sleaze scandals, had acted as a "secret go-between" in the passing of sensitive Downing Street memos to the press in an act of revenge.
"This is nothing to do with me," he said. "I have got nothing to get revenge for. It's a great story though."
He said he was unhappy with some of Labour's policies but was not out to get the party.
"Certainly with some of the disability issues I am [unhappy] for sure and in terms of the National Health Service, it's kind of a watch-this-space situation. But I still hope and believe they are going to come true," Mr Clifford said. "I was very happy to play a small part in the downfall of the last lot. Hopefully with regard to this lot it's still relatively early." --(Reuters)