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Lyon: Tory MEPs abstain on condemnation of anti-gay legislation
September 17, 2009 2:04 PM
George Lyon, Liberal Democrat MEP for Scotland, has hit out at Conservative MEPs who abstained on a vote to condemn new anti-gay legislation in Lithuania.
In a resolution sponsored by Liberal Democrat MEPs, the European Parliament voted by a large majority to voice its opposition to the law reminiscent of the Tories infamous 'section 28'.
Conservative MEPs, who are aligned in the European Conservatives and Reformists group with people who have been openly homophobic, anti-Semitic and racist, once again displayed utter hypocrisy in their attitude to the gay community by abstaining from the vote.
Commenting, Mr Lyon said:
"It is shocking that an EU member state can pass such prejudiced legislation. It is equally shocking that Tory MEPs have not condemned this action with one clear voice.
"I am appalled that Conservative MEPs refused to vote against this vindictive law. David Cameron apologised for section 28 in the UK but then his own team in the European Parliament abstains on a law that is even worse.
"This is the result of Cameron's decision to get into bed with homophobic far-right groups from Poland and the Czech Republic. The Tories might be reaching out to the LGBT community but from the company they keep in Europe it is clear that they are just hunting for votes.
"The fact that the Tories have not faced up to the nasty truth about their friends in the European Parliament shows that hypocrisy and division are still the cornerstone of Conservative policy."
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