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Loading ...No rebuke for Irish MP who called homosexuality an ‘abomination’
08.14.2008 12:50pm EDT
(London) British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has dismissed calls for a public rebuke of a Member of Parliament who called homosexuality “an abomination” in a debate in the House and again in a radio interview.
“There can be no viler act, apart from homosexuality and sodomy, than sexually abusing innocent children,” Ulster Democratic Unionist Party MP Iris Robinson said during a debate in the House.Then in a radio interview, Robinson said that homosexuality is “disgusting, loathsome, nauseating, wicked and vile.”
She also offered to put gays and lesbians with Dr. Paul Miller, a controversial psychiatrist who claims he can make them straight.
In addition to serving in the British Parliament, she is a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly. Her husband, Peter Robinson, is leader of the regional government in Northern Ireland.
The remarks drew sharp criticism from LGBT groups and other politicians in both Belfast and London. Robinson has refused to apologize, but Dr. Miller has since resigned as a part-time adviser for the Ulster Democratic Unionist Party.
Demands for a public rebuke of Robinson were posted on Brown’s Prime Ministerial Web site, growing to more than 15,000 calls for her to be censured.
But Thursday, Brown’s office said there is no provision constitutionally for the Prime Minister to rebuke a Member of Parliament.
“[Individual members] are accountable to their electorate for their own comments,” the Prime Minister’s office said in a statement.
“The government’s vision is an equal, inclusive society in Northern Ireland, where everyone is treated with respect and where opportunity for all remains a priority,” it said.
With all due respect to everyone who is backing Sinn Fein. Having grown up in a republican area in Northern Ireland, I can tell you that Sinn Fein may talk the talk when it comes to gay issues, but walking the walk is a completely different matter.
As for handing over power to Sinn Fein, well, power sharing in the Northern Ireland assembly means that we have. I agree with commenter Alan- gen up before you make stupid comments.
Err….Bill….
She is NORTHERN Irish, Gordon Brown is actually SCOTTISH, and they both are members of the parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain (England & Wales and Scotland) and Northern Ireland parliament, him being the Prime Minister and her being the wife of the First Minister of the devolved parliament of Northern Ireland.
So it is COMPLETELY within his remit to deal with this, and nothing to do with the politics of the Republic of Ireland, commonly known as “Ireland”.
Come on, gen up on the political facts before commenting
This woman is from Nothern Ireland, she is a member of the parliament (MP) of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northnern Ireland, and she probably loathes being described as “Irish” because it suggests she is from the Republic of Ireland, a different sovereign country who’s existence her forebears attempted to prevent.
She is also a bigot, hopefully a dying breed, and we are probably watching the dying thrashing of that breed
Uh, she is NOT an Irish MP: there are no Irish MPs; she is an MP in the British parliament and well within Gordon brown’s jurisdiction when it comes to an open comment on bigoted views. Slimy loser.
Is she the minority or just the voice of the silent christian killers?
It has ntohing to do with English politicians like Brown. He’s English and this is a matter for the Irish to settle.
Rebuking is fine but she should be jailed for inciting violence, along with the entire DUP leadership, especially Ian Paisley and his litter. Then hand over the power to Sinn Fein.
When the bigots get out of jail offer them the choice of acknowledging the and their unitary allegiance to the Republic of Ireland and the rights of the GLBT communites of face immediate deportation and confiscation of all their wealth.
although I strongly dissagree with this woman, I do support her right to say such things. She is entitled to voice her opinion as loathsome as it is. Lets just be glad shes in the minority
OHHHHH! A smart BIRCHING from hubby, who, according to her sick and twisted konservative kristianist kultist beliefs, IS the “Lord and Master” of her marriage. THAT’S the ticket! It’d probably give her chain orgasms .
Raymond Clark
San Diego CA USA
Fair enough. I think that it wouldn’t set a good precedent as its not the PM’s job to discipline members of other parties.
However, her hubby – the First Minister of NI – is another matter! He could take action….
What the hell is up with this “Rugby World Cup” poster and the replicating of lines from the main article! It doesn’t present anything new and is distracting!
Of course there’s no rebuke. Most people believe what she’s saying is true — at least a little. I believe most straight people don’t get it, no matter how polically correct or supportive they are. (Thankfully, there are a few that do.) And the problem is we gays are so used to hearing it, we allow it to continue. Even most democratic candidates don’t support gay marriage, so they reinforce the message that gays aren’t quite normal or entitled to full and equal treatment.
Nobody has mentioned the fact that, apart from the biblical crap and the nonsense about reparative therapy; she rates consenting homosexuals as morally LOWER than people who rape children. Nasty hag.
More back-sliding from the capsizing and doomed Gordon Brown. Speaking as an Irish Republican (a citizen of the Republic, that is; not a member of the IRA) and a homo, we are having a grand old laugh at the expense of these stupid, backward homophobic and racist CharlieOrange fools and their ignorant harpy.
Message to DUP MP Robinson, sorry, lady, but your time is over. The ‘good old days’ of fear, intolerance, and bigotry are done. Thank you, however, for reminding the rest of the world how truly sad and silly ‘unionist’ poltics were in days gone by. Today, such hateful remarks targeted to Gay men and women are unacceptable. Please, Mrs R – are you that upset that you cannot, without shame, attack Catholics and Nationalists any more?
Thank goodness for Sinn Fein and its call for full inclusion of the GLBT community into the greater Irish society!
As the saying goes, our day will come.
What a truly pathetic excuse for a human being. Her electorate will decide her fate and in the process, broadcast to the rest of the world their own level of intelligence in the process. I have written directly to the woman to express my views regarding her and her statements.