Maginnis loses UUP whip over homosexual remarks

The Ulster Unionist Party whip Mike Nesbitt yesterday withdrew the party whip from Lord (Ken) Maginnis over remarks he made last…

The Ulster Unionist Party whip Mike Nesbitt yesterday withdrew the party whip from Lord (Ken) Maginnis over remarks he made last week about the “deviant” practice of homosexuality.

On BBC Radio Ulster’s Stephen Nolan Show last week the former UUP Fermanagh- South Tyrone MP also said that gay sex was “a rung on the ladder” to “bestiality”.

Mr Nesbitt met Lord Maginnis on Saturday. At the end of the meeting he informed him he was withdrawing the party whip from the peer.

Lord Maginnis said he was disappointed by Mr Nesbitt’s action.

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Gerry Moriarty

Gerry Moriarty

Gerry Moriarty is the former Northern editor of The Irish Times