Conservative
Nick Boles
MP for the Grantham and Stamford constituency, Lincolnshire Planning Minister, Department for Communities and Local Government
“Equal opportunity, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, is at the heart of the Conservative Party. Our commitment to promoting and protecting the rights of LGBT people is absolute – I am proud of our record so far, but I’m always mindful that there is more to do.”
- The right plan for Britain
Like everyone else, LGBT people value the security of work, a good home, and strong public services. We have the right plan that is creating more jobs and helping people get on the housing ladder, whilst increasing spending on the NHS: We have pledged an additional £8bn, which is only possible because we have created a strong economy. - Strong leadership, home and abroad
David Cameron offers the strong leadership our country needs. He stood up for LGBT rights and marriage equality: He knew it was right, and he led from the front. I admire that. - The right team
Under David Cameron, the Conservative party is modern and inclusive. In the last parliament, the Conservatives had more LGBT MPs than all the other parties put together. We will always value diversity: 14 per cent of our new candidates are from BME backgrounds, and a third of new candidates in seats we already hold are women. - Marriage Equality
We have introduced civil marriage equality by giving same-sex couples the same opportunity to get married. As Conservatives we believe in freedom and supporting people who make a commitment to each other. - Correcting past wrongs
We have already made it possible for gay men with historic criminal records for consensual gay sex to apply to have these records deleted. Our manifesto sets out plans for a new law to lift the blight of all such outdated past convictions based on the pardon given to Alan Turing. - Harsher penalties for hate crimes
We’ve ensured people who murder transgender people in hate crime attacks now face life sentences. We will now look at extending hate crime laws to cover crimes committed against people on the basis of disability, sexual orientation or transgender identity. - Tackling homophobia in schools and sport
We have invested £2 million in schools to help them tackle homophobic bullying and launched a Sports Charter to stamp out homophobia and transphobia in sport. - The UK is now number one in Europe for LGBT rights
Under our government the ‘Rainbow Europe’ survey conducted by ILGA Europe has ranked the UK number one for LGBT rights for the third year in a row. - Promoting LGBT rights overseas
We will continue to challenge anti-LGBT laws overseas, and we have a track-record of leading from the very top on this: David Cameron has personally raised concerns with President Putin, whilst UK Embassies abroad now support human rights organisations campaigning to change laws and social attitudes. We have also stopped the deportation of asylum seekers facing homophobic persecution. - We value LGBT people for who they are
We are committed to equality, but no-one should be defined purely by their sexuality or gender identity. Our plan is for a stronger economy and security for all – and a country where everyone is free to be who they are and to be given the respect they deserve.
Labour
Tom Burke
National Co-Chair of LGBT Labour
“Labour is the only party that has delivered and can deliver equality. We believe that everyone should have a chance to succeed, regardless of where they were born, the wealth of their family, their sexual orientation or gender identity. Our plan is for a better future for everyone; this is the positive agenda we’re setting out in our campaign. A Labour Government will reduce the deficit whilst protecting public services and will focus on ensuring real equality for LGBT people. We will take action to protect our rights at home and abroad and create a society that ensures everyone can prosper.”
- A record of action for LGBT people
The last Labour Government delivered the biggest step forward in LGBT equality and rights in British history. It was Labour votes that delivered same sex marriage; the majority of Tory MPs voted against its introduction. - Scrap unfair Tory employment tribunal fees
Tories have added fees of £1200 for people who face discrimination at work to seek justice. It’s resulted in a nearly 80% reduction in employment tribunal claims on the grounds of sexual orientation. Labour will abolish the fees and ensure affordability is not a barrier to justice. - Restore the Equality Act and protect the Human Rights Act
The Tories have continually watered down Labour’s Equality Act – removing protection for discrimination and weakening duties to promote equality. Tories would scrap our Human Rights Act putting our rights and freedoms at risk. Labour will restore the Equality Act and keep the Human Rights Act. - Comprehensive review of gender identity law
Labour passed the landmark Gender Recognition Act in 2004, creating new legal rights for trans* people. More than ten years on, we will undertake a comprehensive review of gender identity law and policy to ensure its delivering for Trans* and non-binary individuals for the decades to come. - Sex and relationship education in all schools
All publically funded schools, including academies and faith schools, will offer sex and relationship education. We will ensure that it is inclusive of LGBT people and age appropriate. - Tougher laws on hate crime
We will strengthen the law on disability, homophobic and transphobic hate crime and ensure that hate crime is included in police data to vet applicants who work with children and vulnerable people. - Justice for historic homophobic convictions
Labour will adopt a ‘Turing’s Law’ to ensure that convictions under our historic homophobic laws can be disregarded. - Tackle HIV and protect our health service
Gay and bisexual men remain at high risk of HIV in the UK. Labour will launch a national sexual health strategy aiming to reduce late and undiagnosed HIV and promote increased access to testing. - Combat anti-LGBT bullying and prejudice in schools
Initial teacher training will need to include how to challenge homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying. We will ensure that every school has a member of staff to lead on supporting Trans* students. - Appoint an International LGBT Rights Envoy
Co-founder of Stonewall, Lord Michael Cashman, will be our International LGBT Rights Envoy promoting respect for LGBT people and work towards decriminalisation of homosexuality worldwide.
Liberal Democrat
Adrian Trett
Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for Vauxhall
“The Liberal Democrats exist to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society, in which we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community, and in which no one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity.”
- Fair Taxes
Over the last five years we have cut taxes by £800 for people with low incomes by raising the point at which you start paying income tax to £10,600. We want to raise it further to at least £12,500. - More Jobs and Apprenticeships
We have more people in employment than ever before. There have been 2.2 million apprenticeships during the last government and will want to increase that even further. - Investing £8 billion into the NHS
GP surgeries will offer evening, weekend, phone and Skype appointments, allowing people more choice. - A healthy mind is as important as a healthy body
Treating mental health on a par with physical health. We will spend £500m every year to shorten mental health waiting times, create a £50m research fund, and train our public services how to identify and treat people. - Create a fairer society for LGBT+ people
Cohabiting couples will be protected when their relationship collapses or a partner dies. Historic convictions for now consensual sex will be pardoned, criminalise homophobic chanting at sporting events, and guidelines on blood donation will be reviewed. - Teaching our children life skills
To support schools in tackling homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying along with a ‘curriculum for life’ including financial management, citizenship, and sex & relationship education from age of seven. - Affordable Housing for All
To build 300,000 homes, new Rent to Own homes where monthly payments buy you a stake in the property. New Help to Rent tenancy deposit loans for young people to get on the housing ladder. - Protecting Our Environment
Empower local communities to create new National Nature Parks, plant a tree for every child born, recycling 70% of household waste and minimise landfill sites. Save lives by having clean air with low emission zones. - Protecting Our Rights Online
To update data laws with a Digital Bill of Rights, safeguarding the essential freedom of the internet and back net neutrality, oppose requiring companies storing a record of everyone’s internet activities. - Drug decriminalisation – from Home Office to Health
Doctors will be allowed to prescribe cannabis for medicinal use, ‘Possession for Personal Use’ will no longer be a criminal offence – and anyone arrested will either undergo treatment, education or given civil penalties.
Green
Benali Hamdache
Green Party Equalities Spokesperson
“The Green Party was founded out of a concern for people and planet. At its core the party is about addressing inequality, unsustainable consumption of the world’s resources and building a better future for all.”
Politics has changed, no political party will get a majority in May which makes a vote for the Green Party even more powerful. Re-electing Caroline Lucas and helping get more Green MPs elected can mean Greens will be in a strong position to push our agenda in a hung parliament.
We want the wealthy to pay their fair share. The richest in society who have seen their wealth grow and grow would be asked to contribute more through a wealth tax and an increase in income tax. From that income we’d deliver better public funded services.
The NHS would be safe in our hands. We’d reverse the years of privatisation and the millions wasted on scandalous PFI schemes. We’d deliver a NHS that is public, free and delivers effectively the services we all rely on.
We also want everyone to have a job that pays enough to live off. We’d make the minimum wage a living wage of £10 an hour by 2020. Employers should be paying all employees a wage that they can live off, rather than be stuck in working poverty.
We’d work to fight climate change. Global warming threatens the planet’s resources and the wellbeing of countless communities. We can de-carbonise our economy creating thousands of well-paid Green Jobs.
We’d work to stop the scapegoating of migrants and protect the rights of LGBTIQ refugees and indeed all migrants. Current policy means that many legitimate LGBTIQ refugees are cruelly returned to countries that are not safe, we’d reform the asylum process to be fairer.
We’d fight transphobia, biphobia and homophobia in schools by introducing mandatory LGBT inclusive education. Children need to learn that being gay, bi or trans is okay and education can help make sure children feel included and safe.
We’d make society more inclusive by working to reverse the ban on gay and bi men giving blood, toughening up legislation on hate crime and ensure trans people could more easily access NHS services.
We’d make education more accessible by scrapping tuition fees. Countless European countries offer free university education, there is no reason the UK cannot, too.
We’d address the housing crisis by building 500,000 affordable homes. House prices and renting costs are out of control, we need to build more homes and cap rent costs. We can do this by taxing landlords more and legislating against rent hikes.
UKIP
Nigel Sussman
UKIP Parliamentary Candidate for Westminster North
“When it comes to LGBT issues, UKIP is a Democratic, Libertarian party that believes in putting Britain first. To be Libertarian means to uphold liberty as a principal objective. Libertarians seek to maximize autonomy and freedom of choice, emphasising political freedom, voluntary association and the primacy of individual judgment. If you want your dreams to come true, first you have to wake up!”
- Have a referendum to exit the EU
The EU is a Federalist Dictatorship, they have already shown no respect for the rights of Magna Carta, over 75% of the laws in this country came from the EU, as such Westminster has become just a shell, we have effectively lost our Sovereignty and need to reclaim it back. - Have a referendum to exit the EU
We are unable to control our borders, which is allowing unlimited immigration, David Cameron already tried to renegotiate and was told no, he has gone very quiet on the subject since. We are not anti immigration, we just want some controls, we will implement an Australian based points system. - Have a referendum to exit the EU
Housing is in crisis, this is due to shortage of supply, the other parties will say they will build more homes, but they are not controlling demand, a good analogy is trying to cater for a wedding when you don’t know how many people are coming! - Have a referendum to exit the EU
Access to hospitals, GP’s and school places are all under pressure because of uncontrolled immigration we are cutting services whilst the population is growing? - Have a referendum to exit the EU
The EU now wants to include Drugs and Prostitution in the GDP figures as they think this will make the debt figures look smaller, not only is it not true, it makes our contribution even bigger. - Have a referendum to exit the EU
We spend £55 million pounds a day as a member of the EU, that money could be better spent on the British people. - Have a referendum to exit the EU
We will be able to regain our place at the World Trade Organisation, and re-engage with our Commonwealth partners, not a single EU country is in the top 15 top growing economies. Even though we will exit the EU, will still have EFTA, EEC or individual trading agreements. - Have a referendum to exit the EU
The EU has pursued aggressive expansion plans, leading to trouble between Russia and Ukraine, we need to follow our own Foreign policy. The EU has plans for its own army, are we prepared to go to war at their behest? - Have a referendum to exit the EU
Have you seen what is coming down the line? Every country to join the Euro by 2020, a European tax, unelected regional representatives reporting directly to Brussels rather than our Parliament. What next? When is it enough for voters to want to do something about it? - Implement Common Sense policies that put the British people first
We are not a 1 or 2 issue party, we have a fully costed Manifesto full of common sense policies based on the fact that we have the money and the sovereignty to see them implemented.
