Simon Hughes in 'The Sun'

[butchersapron]

What's he apologising for?

"Condemning a leaflet which talked about a “straight choice” between the two, he accepted responsibility and gave an unreserved apology.

He said: “I hope that there will never be that sort of campaign again. I have never been comfortable about the whole of that campaign, as Peter knows, and I said that to him in the past . . . Where there were things that were inappropriate or wrong, I apologise for that.”

 

[JHE]

Cant admit it because i dont know it to be true and nobody has posted up any evidence of SH saying anything homophobic.

As far as I know, SH has never made anti-gay remarks or personal attacks on Tatchell himself. However, his campaign workers did. SH, at the very least, allowed it and benefitted from it. That's why he has apologised for (that aspect of) his campaign.

 

[HarrisonSlade]

did hughes lie about it?

i'm not so sure - he said he wasn't gay, he didn't say he wasn't bisexual.

He said, whilst he was Arthur and Martha, that he was the "straight" choice" against Peter Tatchell. His lying about his sexuality is not the issue, but the fact that he destroyed the Parliamentarian career of one man over his sexuality when he was, himself, an iron, is an issue to me, and many others.

 

[articul8]

the fact that he destroyed the Parliamentarian career of one man over his sexuality when he was, himself, an iron, is an issue to me, and many others.

I don't think that it is fair to say Hughes destroyed Tatchell "over his sexuality". The anti-gay witch-hunt was led by the tabloid press, the former right-wing Labour crowd who stood against Tatchell as official candidate, and was hardly combatted by the Labour leadership (Hattersly commented in the Darlington by-election "thank god there's no poofs standing this time".)
Tatchell himself acknowledges Hughes was himself personally in favour of gay rights, but feels that he was opportunistic in not publically condemning the attacks.

That Tatchell had enemies only too keen to stoke homophobic prejudice to prevent him winning is certainly true. Whether Hughes was among them is far from clear, though no doubt he was willing to enjoy the electoral benefits.

(BTW - Tbaldwin's argument shows incredible lack of understanding at just how pissed off people were about the corrupt right wing bureaucracy that dominated Bermondsey labour for years - demonstrated by O'Grady's even more derisory vote as an independent.)

 

[pilchardman]

OK, let's get this straight. . The Liberals ran a sly campaign capitalising on the rampant homophobia of the day. Hughes could have stopped this to maintain the high moral ground, but he didn't. That was cowardly. Now it turns out - as was long suspected - that he is a bit gay himself.

We can argue all day about whether Labour would have won were Tatchell not gay, and Labour were certainly getting a kicking in the media at the time, but we can't rerun the campaign with a straight Labour candidate, so it's academic. The point is that the Liberals chose to make the most of the gay issue.

I heard Tatchell saying on the radio yesterday "It was all a very long time ago, and I think we should move on". Well, that's very noble of him. But it doesn't change events.

Hughes has apologised for the campaign. And he now hopes his sexuality (whatever it is) won't stand in the way of his career. It ought not to. But at very least his courage and ability to face down bigotry that appears to be mainstream ought to be questioned.

 

[Larry O'Hara]

I agree with Pilchardman--Hughes' judgement & character must be called into question. And let us not forget--without the homophobic attacks on Tatchell being successful, Hughes would not have had a parliamentary career.

 

[Kenny Vermouth]

The more I look at this leadership contest, the more I think Chris Huhne may be the Lib Dems' saviour.

He may have only been an MP for a short time, but he is the only "clean" candidate.

Two of his opponents have been exposed as homosexual perverts. Oaten dropped out of the race after ordering rent boys to perform an act "too revolting to describe" in a newspaper. Hughes is damaged goods and languishes in third place, according to the bookies, after lying about having had homosexual relationships plus using gay sex phone lines.

Ming, meanwhile, is still the front runner. But many regard him as the architect of Kennedy's demise. It doesn't matter how many times he denies it, everyone knows he drew the knife across Charlie's neck.

Huhne may be an unknown, but he's also untainted.

 

[Jografer]

...I think Chris Huhne may be the Lib Dems' saviour.

He may have only been an MP for a short time, but he is the only "clean" candidate.

Two of his opponents have been exposed as homosexual perverts.

bigoted twat, with friends like you Huhne doesn't need enemies....

 

[kasheem]

Campbell is going to win. I hope he does... Huhne is the quiet maniac skulking in from the back.

 

[Kenny Vermouth]

bigoted twat, with friends like you Huhne doesn't need enemies....

Look cunt, I'm not a friend of Huhne's and I don't vote Lib Dem.

 

[KeyboardJockey]

Look cunt, I'm not a friend of Huhne's and I don't vote Lib Dem.

But -- judging by your previous utterances you are a bigoted cunt though so that bit is true.

You know what they say about those who rave on about 'filthy pervert gays' etc don't you?? They can usually be found indulging in a quiet bit of hershey highway action themselves.

You can go back to wanking over Hittlejohn now.

 

[In Bloom]

The more I look at this leadership contest, the more I think Chris Huhne may be the Lib Dems' saviour.

He may have only been an MP for a short time, but he is the only "clean" candidate.

Two of his opponents have been exposed as homosexual perverts.

What really amazes me is that a semi-literate, troglodytic twat like this has managed to survive for so long without drinking from a bottle with a skull on it.

 

[editor]

Two of his opponents have been exposed as homosexual perverts.

Is homosexuality a perversion, then?

 

[Jografer]

Look cunt, I'm not a friend of Huhne's and I don't vote Lib Dem.

..... and I'm sure that he & they are very grateful for that...... you're still a bigoted twat....

 

[Streathamite]

You have a wee problem here tbaldwin; I was there, I am acquai9nted with virtually all the key palyers, and I am an expert on this by-election.

The Bermondsey by election proved how out of touch the Labour Left was with working class people. .

RUBBISH! In the three years leading up to the by-election there was a hefty increase in LP membership, from local (i.e. very much working class) types. the people who came in with tatchell in the late 70s/early 80s rejuvenated the CLP, and Mellish himself was one of the first to acknowledge this.

Just as much was made of Tatchell being Australian as Gay.

No it wasn't! Not ONCE was his australian-ness made an issue, by anyone other than O'Grady or Hughes - and their smears fell on deaf ears. In fact, the australian 'character' would chime rather well with the rather rough 'n' ready 'local ways'.
it was his homosexuality that was the issue from start to finish.

Tatchell was seen as an outsider by most Bermondsey people

err...this outsider who'd lived there for 5 years, been CLP branch sec for 3 years beforehand, never lived anywhere else in London....

and it was the press who jumped in with the hompophobic shit not Simon Hughes.

Balls. Hughes's people and O'Grady's people kicked off the homophobic shit right from the very start; Insinuations onj the doorsteps, in meetings. you name it. The press were worse, but Hughes'scampaign was one long parade of homophobia. tbh. i'm not sure how much of this simon was culpable for, but as the candidate, the buck stops there.

Simon Hughes to my knowledge never said anything homophobic.

your knowledge is inadequate then. he CERTAINLY made a few nasty insinuations in public meetings

Nearly everyone in Bermondsey knew he was Gay years ago but they continued to vote for him because they think he's a really good MP who cares about them.

NO-ONE has disputed he's a good constituency man. ALL libdems MP are. it's a developed survival mechanism. personally, I find SH to be a slippery, devious schemer, albeit one with some progressive views.

 

[Streathamite]

So what are you saying that everyone standing for parliamemnt should have to declare their sexuality?
Simon Hughes is a good MP and loads of people in Bermondsey love the bloke and don't give a shit about his sexuality.

It's not his sexuality I have a problem with; it's his ethics.

 

[HarrisonSlade]

Two of his opponents have been exposed as homosexual perverts.

I can't think of any other explaination for this outburst other than you claiming that all homosexuals are perverts.

I do hope you can explain, although since you refused to answer the editor's question, I feel that you may have proved yourself to being a bigoted wanker.

 

[Jo/Joe]

It isn't fair to condemn a person for things they did or didn't do over 20 years ago. The issue has been openly acknowledged, and he has apologised. I guess if you have led an exemplary life, even under great pressure which is what counts, than you are entitled to continue condemning him for all eternity. It's a waste of energy though.

 

[Roadkill]

Two of his opponents have been exposed as homosexual perverts.

 

[William of Walworth]

It isn't fair to condemn a person for things they did or didn't do over 20 years ago. The issue has been openly acknowledged, and he has apologised. I guess if you have led an exemplary life, even under great pressure which is what counts, than you are entitled to continue condemning him for all eternity. It's a waste of energy though.

Bollocks.

See my posts on the Simon Hughes thread on the main forum, for why I say that ...

Simon Hughes is not gay -- 9 page thread

 

[Streathamite]

It isn't fair to condemn a person for things they did or didn't do over 20 years ago. The issue has been openly acknowledged, and he has apologised. I guess if you have led an exemplary life, even under great pressure which is what counts, than you are entitled to continue condemning him for all eternity. It's a waste of energy though.

joe; no-one is 'condemning' Hughes, but he is, after all, standing for the Leadership of a mainstream political party that may well hold the balance of power after the next election. The two things we know are
a) he fronted a homophobic campaign in a spectacularly dirty by-election
c) he had gay relationships before and after that, which he lied about until now.
Given that, we are all surely entitled to question his judgement, and ethics.
And the fact I think that the PM is a scumbag and the tory leader a clown is neither here nor there!

 

[phildwyer]

There was a similar scenario to Bermondsey in the States about 20 years ago, when Ed Koch (rumored to be gay) ran for governor of New York State against Mario Cuomo. Cuomo's supporters gave out leaflets saying "Vote for Cuomo, not the Homo" and such like. Cuomo won the election, but disavowed responsibility for the leaflets and it never hurt his career. Of course, unlike Hughes, he really *was* straight.

 

[Streathamite]

blimey!!!
learn new things all the time....

 

[Jo/Joe]

He appears to be bisexual. Personally, I don't care if he wants to declare his sexuality or not. It's his business. The 83 campaign is long gone. People do the wrong thing sometimes, it doesn't make them Hitler.

 

[Azrael]

They've always had absolutely brilliant scandals, going back to Jeremy Thorpe and Lloyd George. Absolutely the best scandals ever, no other party comes close. One is even tempted to vote for them.

Right back to William Gladstone "converting" ladies of the night (actually knowing him that's exactly what he was doing) and taking opium in the chamber of the commons.

Although being a liberal it was stirred into his tea.

 

[phildwyer]

Right back to William Gladstone "converting" ladies of the night (actually knowing him that's exactly what he was doing) and taking opium in the chamber of the commons.

And Asquith, for whom the word "squiffy" was *invented.*

 

[HarrisonSlade]

It isn't fair to condemn a person for things they did or didn't do over 20 years ago. The issue has been openly acknowledged, and he has apologised. I guess if you have led an exemplary life, even under great pressure which is what counts, than you are entitled to continue condemning him for all eternity. It's a waste of energy though.

An apology is not enough for destroying a man's Parliamentary career by using his sexuality as a stick to beat him with. To do that whilst hiding a sexuality he made a serious issue makes him a cheat and a liar of the worst kind. If this had been a Tory MP who did this many on here would be calling for his head.

 

[smokedout]

It was more than just 'a straight choice'

from Tatchell himself

"On the doorsteps they spread false rumours that I was chair of the
local gay society - no such society existed."

"A party member involved in the Liberal campaign in 1983 confessed to
me that the Liberals were behind the anonymous and illegal campaign
leaflet, 'Which Queen Will You Vote For?', which ridiculed my sexuality and
invited local voters to have a go at me by listing my home address and
phone number."

link

 

[detective-boy]

...only admitting when your backs against the wall ...

You are a Sun headline writer and I claim my £5 ...

 

[detective-boy]

Oaten dropped out of the race after ordering rent boys to perform an act "too revolting to describe" in a newspaper. Hughes is damaged goods and languishes in third place, according to the bookies, after lying about having had homosexual relationships plus using gay sex phone lines.

I doubt very much whether these acts "too revolting to describe" are anything very much different than practiced by thousands of heterosexual men evry fucking week.

And are the Sun and the News of the World going to stop advertising sex chat lines (of any sexuality)? I don't fucking suppose so because the advertisers pay well ... because literally millions of people use them.

The hypocrisy of the policitians, lying about their sexuality? Fuck off. The hypocrisy of much of the fucking media is beginning to reach epic proportions.