10th November 2009

Every Tory MP in the House of Commons last night voted against the Government's plans to protect gays and lesbians from all homophobic hatred.

The vote on the Coroners & Justice Bill, which came back before the Commons last night, continued a long-running dispute between the Government and Tory benches over protection against incitement to hatred on grounds of sexual orientation.

In 2008 the Government first tried to introduce the protection from homophobic hatred - but it was undermined by a Lords' amendment to exempt people with extreme views on the basis of religion.

The Coroners & Justice Bill seeks to remove this exemption - and last night, the Conservatives once again showed their opposition as all their MPs present voted in favour of keeping the exemption.

Their attempt to block the new law failed, however, as 96% of Labour MPs voted to protect gays and lesbians from all homophobic hatred.

Richard Angell, LGBT Labour Secretary said:

"Every time this law is voted on, we see the same divisions - almost entirely along party lines. The Government's new law will protect lesbian and gay people - yet the Tories keep voting to let some people get away with inciting homophobic hatred. Not a single Tory voted last night to give gays and lesbians complete protection from hatred - it shows that, whatever they may say, when it comes to voting against gay rights the Tories haven't changed"