Conservatives and Gay/Lesbian "Lifestyles"

Sayeeda Warsi ran for the Tories in Dewsbury in the 2005 general election.

Her campaign literature for Muslim voters in the constituency included phrases like:

"Labour has scrapped Section 28, which was introduced by the Conservatives to stop schools promoting alternative sexual lifestyles such as homosexuality to children as young as seven years old"

"Labour reduced the age of consent for homosexuality from 18 to 16, allowing schoolchildren to be propositioned for homosexual relationships."

Other pieces of campaign literature, targeted at white areas, had a strong anti-immigration theme.

Naturally, with this background, she became a vice-chair of the party.

Now, David Cameron has parachuted her into the House of Lords to be a front bench spokesperson for, of all things, social cohesion. Social cohesion, as long as you aren't gay, lesbian or bi.

Warsi, confronted with the leaflets from 2005, has said that people can be gay and lesbian in their private lives, and referred to being gay and lesbian as "lifestyles", and that she would want sex education to be "out of the school system, initially."

This is what lies behind the spin and surface appeal of David Cameron.