Gays galore
From Mr Andy Jennings Sir: Peter Oborne ('Minority pursuits', 20 July) made a reasoned assessment of the Conservatives' attempts to broaden their candidate base. However, there was one glaring inaccuracy, as he suggested that there were no openly gay Tory candidates at the last general election. Among others, David Gold (Brighton Pavilion) might disagree.
I also fail to understand how even The Spectator can have received confirmation from Central Office that there are no approved gay candidates, while at the same time it is 'unable to reveal' how many are from ethnic backgrounds. I know of at least five of our members who have made it on to the candidates' list. And now Alan Duncan, the Conservative spokesman on foreign affairs, has declared that he is gay.
By and large this is irrelevant. We have recently had council elections with a record number of gay Conservatives standing and being elected. But the real issue is not their sexuality. It is how much better they. as Conservatives, will serve those who elect them.
Andy Jennings
Tory Campaign for Homosexual Equality, London SE7
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