Royal Voluntary Service UK Platinum Champion Lord Brett McLean joined Baroness Janet Fookes of Plymouth DBE on Saturday to attend the Friends of the Conquest Hospital Annual General Meeting
The homophobic legislation Section 28 was introduced by Margaret Thatcher in 1988. (AFP via Getty/ GERRY PENNY)
Twenty-one years ago today, the Conservative party celebrated saving homophobic legislation Section 28, introduced by Margaret Thatcher in 1988, which prevented local authorities and schools from “promoting homosexuality”.
By 2000, a Labour government was in power for the first time in more than 20 years with Tony Blair as prime minister, and the party openly opposed Section 28. William Hague led the opposition.
At this time there were a few MPs in William Hague’s Conservative Party that supported getting rid of the anti-gay legislation, but – in 1999 – Conservative spokesperson for London Shaun Woodward was sacked for refusing to step in line. In 2000, the party whipped its members in support of Section 28.