Chris McAndrew
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has apologised for visiting a church which teaches the biblical understanding of sexuality and marriage – a move branded “an insult” to Christians.
On Good Friday, Sir Keir shared a video of his visit to Jesus House for All The Nations in North London, during which he praised the church for its role as a pop-up centre in the vaccine roll-out.
But he was attacked by LGBT activists within the party, who said the visit was “unacceptable” and “does not align with our values on conversion therapy or LGBT+ equality”.
‘Completely disagree’
Agu Irukwu, who is senior pastor of Jesus House, has previously challenged attempts to change the law to normalise and promote homosexuality, having signed open letters criticising parts of the the Equality Act 2006 and the redefinition of marriage in 2013.
BBC News
Published
image copyrightPA Media
Sir Keir Starmer has apologised after visiting a church which has been criticised for its stance towards homosexuality.
The Labour leader visited Jesus House in London on Good Friday and later shared a video from his visit online.
But after a backlash including from his party s LGBT+ members, Sir Keir called it a mistake and deleted the clip.
He said he completely disagreed with the church s views on LGBT+ rights and was not aware of them beforehand. I apologise for the hurt my visit caused and have taken down the video, he said. It was a mistake and I accept that.
Sir Keir Starmer is on course for a humiliating defeat in Hartlepool s by-election as a new poll shows the Tories have a seven-point lead.
Conservative candidate Jill Mortimer is set to win with 49 per cent of the vote at Labour stronghold Hartlepool in next month s by-election, a Survation poll has revealed.
Meanwhile, Labour s Candidate Dr Paul Williams is set to take home just 42 per cent, a rise of only four points on the share won by Mike Hill in the 2019 general election.
Mr Hill resigned last month in the wake of reports that he used taxpayers money to fight a staff member s claim of unfair dismissal, sexual assault and harassment. He has denied the allegations.
Sadiq Khan ‘Wasting Time’ With Cannabis Legal Review, No.10 Says
Boris Johnson has “absolutely no intention of legalising cannabis” because “illicit drugs destroy lives”, Downing Street says.
Kirsty O Connor/PA
Sadiq Khan would be wasting his time if he sets up a review to look at decriminalising cannabis if he is re-elected as London mayor, Downing Street has said.
Boris Johnson’s press secretary Allegra Stratton said the prime minister has “absolutely no intention of legalising cannabis”, insisting “illicit drugs destroy lives”.
Khan has promised to set up an independent commission to examine the health, economic and criminal justice benefits of decriminalising the class B drug.