Same Old Tories

The Conservatives have been attacked by the Liberal Democrats for voting against measures designed to end unfair discrimination based on sexual orientation. In Tuesday night's vote on the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (Northern Ireland), 41 Tory Peers, including 10 front-bench spokespeople, voted against the key legislation. No Liberal Democrat Peers voted against the Act.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Women and Equalities Spokesperson, Lorely Burt MP said: "David Cameron calls himself a liberal conservative, but his colleagues in the House of Lords clearly are not. The high number of senior Tories voting against these essential measures shows the true face of the so-called 'modern' Conservative party. The Conservatives remain a deeply reactionary element of British politics.

"When action was needed to protect the rights of gay people, the Tory party was found wanting."