The marriage of true minds
It is unwise to make a martyr of a loyal supporter and sacrifice party unity over a conscience vote
Etiquette guides may frown on dinner table talk about sex, religion or politics. But all three topics have collided in a row about gay marriage – not between the political parties but within one of them. Green councillor Christina Summers was the only member of Brighton and Hove City Council to vote against a recent motion on gay marriage. During the debate she explained that her Christian beliefs meant she couldn’t back the motion in support of the government legalising gay marriage. She does, though, support same sex relationships and civil partnerships.
Every other member who was present for the vote – Labour, Conservative and Green – backed the motion. Several said that they disagreed with Councillor Summers but respected her opinion and her right to express it. But some Green councillors have taken exception and at a party meeting they voted to hold an “inquiry panel”. As a result she may end up being expelled from the Green group.
One party member, while disagreeing with Councillor Summers on the subject of gay marriage, said it was unwise for the Greens to risk the appearance of carrying out a witch hunt.
One commentator, the Brighton Politics Blogger, said that any action taken against her “would be wrong, even discriminatory on the grounds of religion and gender”. The blogger urged the Green Party to “show how mature and measured it is as a party” or risk becoming a laughing stock. The blogger said: “To take action against her would alienate the Greens from many Christians.”
What is at issue is not, say some Greens, the religious beliefs held by Councillor Summers. They say that she, in common with all Green candidates, signed an undertaking to promote equal rights – a key tenet of party policy. And her speech and vote breached her undertaking.
While Councillor Summers disputes that interpretation of equal rights, she will almost certainly have looked again at the party’s manifesto at the local elections. This is the manifesto on which she stood. And while it mentions equalities, it makes no mention of gay marriage. It does, however, promise to respect everyone – whatever their beliefs.
Councillor Summers is at the heart of a conflict being played out between freedom of speech and equalities, over an issue on which the council has no decision-making power. And at a time when the government had already ended its consultation on the subject. And on a notice of motion. There were six such motions listed on the most recent council agenda. But they weren’t all debated because it was nearing pub closing time and the meeting was brought to a close “before they all shut”.
Even among gay rights campaigners there has been disagreement over calls for gay marriage. For some, civil partnerships have resolved the issue. After all, they are known colloquially as gay marriages. For others, this is not enough. But when jobs, housing and school standards are uppermost in many people’s minds, some are wondering about their party’s focus and whether the scale of its response is disproportionate.
The Greens, like Labour and the Tories, are a broad church. Those running the show would do well to find ways to accommodate their supporters. Not least as the party lacks an overall majority on the council. And when it comes to tolerance and respect, now is the time to walk the walk, not just talk
the talk.
