Peter Tatchell: Human Rights, Global Justice, Democracy, LGBT Freedom, Environmentalism

Tories ally with homophobic, misogynistic, anti-Semitic MEPs

European Parliament alliance is an insult to Jewish, gay and women voters

London – 22 June 2009

“The modern, liberal image that David Cameron has been trying to cultivate is seriously damaged by his decision to team up with Poland’s homophobic Law and Justice Party (PiS),” said human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell.

“This party has strong links with the misogynistic and anti-Semitic Catholic radio station, Radio Maryja.”

“Jewish, gay and women voters will be appalled to see the Tories cooperating with such a nasty, bigoted party. It calls into question the sincerity of David Cameron’s professed conversion to progressive Conservatism.”

Mr Tatchell was commenting on the formation of a new political bloc in the European Parliament, the anti-federalist European Conservatives and Reformists.

“As well as the British Conservatives, it includes the Polish Law and Justice Party, the far right Latvian National Independence Movement and the Czech Civic Democrat Party, whose leader, President Vaclav Klaus, vetoed civil unions for same-sex couples and a law prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of age, race, ethnicity or sexual orientation.

“The National Independence Movement of Latvia borders on neo-Nazi, annually commemorating Latvians who served in the Nazi Waffen SS during the second world war,” said Mr Tatchell.

See this news story about the prejudiced policies and political links of the Polish Law and Justice Party, PiS:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/jun/02/david-cameron-alliance-polish-nationalists