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Labour's gay pride snub loosens grip on pink vote
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor30 May 2008
Labour risks losing the crucial "pink vote" at the next election after it emerged that no senior minister is expected at the gay and lesbian London Pride march this summer.
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, Mayor Boris Johnson and possibly Tory leader David Cameron are all set to turn up to the event in Trafalgar Square in July.
This year's march is expected to be the biggest so far, attracting half a million gay and lesbian people, and is being sponsored by City Hall, the Metropolitan Police, Ford and Lloyds TSB.
But organisers told the Standard today that they had been met with"complete silence" from Labour as to whether any ministers would be attending. The blunder means that Gordon Brown could be the only party leader absent from the event.
Colm Howard-Lloyd, director of Pride London 08, said that he was "puzzled" by Labour's failure to respond to requests for politicians to attend the jamboree.
"Labour has in the past been keen to be seen as the party speaking out on gay rights. Despite requests from a number of angles, they have failed to respond. It seems they are in such a panic just now they don't know which way is up," he said.
Pride organisers tried the Prime Minister's diary secretary, as well as aides to Harriet Harman, the deputy Labour leader, but got no response. "We have tried secretaries, officials and we have volunteers across Whitehall but we have heard nothing at all.
"The Lib Dems are sending Nick Clegg, the Conservatives have Boris but are also checking the availability of David Cameron, William Hague and other senior figures. Even the Greens and other parties have offered speakers without prompting."
Tony Blair was proactive in courting the pink vote and turned up to a Stonewall gala last year, when he was prime minister, to declare that his civil partnerships law had made him "skip with joy".
But some gay rights campaigners believe Mr Brown is less comfortable with going public about the issue.
Mr Johnson is heavily involved in this year's event as City Hall is a sponsor. He has gone out of his way to assure the pink vote of his liberal credentials after criticism during the mayoral election over his past remarks on gay marriage. The Tories are in the midst of a concerted effort to woo gay voters.
