The Greens already have an excellent mayoral candidate, Sian Berry. The Labour MP for Oxfor... Peter Tatchell: You Ask The Ques
The Labour MP for Oxford East, Andrew Smith, supported the Iraq war, foundation hospitals, student top-up fees, ID cards, nuclear power and restrictions on civil liberties. He deserves to lose. The Tories don't stand a chance in Oxford East.
Apart from hypocrites, people should be left to come out in their own time. But staying permanently in the closet reinforces the idea that it is shameful to be gay.
The people of Zimbabwe are not urging invasion. Armed intervention would smack of neo-colonialism and strengthen Mugabe's position by allowing him to play the nationalist card.
Just because Mugabe is a bit effeminate and very homophobic doesn't necessarily mean he is gay. But research by the US psychologist Henry Adams has demonstrated that most homophobes are repressed, self-loathing queers. Draw your own conclusions.
Islam is an idea not a race. Therefore it is not racist to oppose Islamist fundamentalism. The way much of the far left has aligned itself with right-wing Islamists is one of the biggest political turnarounds since Oswald Mosley switched from socialism to fascism.
I was subjected to unprecedented tabloid smears and fabrications. The anti-Labour parties waged the dirtiest, most violent election campaign of the past 100 years. Since my defeat, other Labour candidates have stood in Bermondsey. They didn't win either.
The average age of the first sexual experience is 14. I am not saying this is desirable but it is wrong that these young people are criminalised. An age of consent of 14 would reduce criminalisation and facilitate earlier, better sex education. The best way to protect young people against abusers is to give them the skills and confidence to say no. Lots of European countries have an age of consent of 14. It has not led to increased abuse.
I don't own a car. I cycle nearly everywhere. I don't eat meat. My rubbish is recycled. I put on a pullover instead of turning up the central heating, and switch off the hot water when I am away. My flat is insulated, and has energy-saving light bulbs and appliances.
Blair's achievements are overshadowed by his failures on Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Darfur, Congo and Zimbabwe. He has presided over the biggest erosion of civil liberties in peacetime, created a cruel asylum system, and has pushed crazy schemes like ID cards, renewal of Trident and expanded nuclear power. Although Blair repealed most anti-gay laws, his government still supports the ban on same-sex marriage and refuses to crack down on reggae singers and Muslim extremists who incite the murder of gay people.
I wasn't saying that Cohen should have ridiculed Muslims. I was criticising him for his selectivity. We should defend free speech but also think about its consequences.
Prison abuses are widespread, especially against black and Muslim inmates. They have no effective redress. The Prison Ombudsman should be abolished. I would give HM Chief Inspector of Prisons statutory powers to close unfit prisons and to dismiss staff and governors.
I have been campaigning for human rights for 24 years, 80 hours a week. All unpaid. I do an extra 20 hours a week paid work. I live on £8,000 a year. Compared to most people on this planet I am well-off, but I would love a bigger flat, an office and three paid staff so I don't have to work evenings and weekends.
My campaign successes give me immense happiness. But there is a downside - long hours, not much of a social life, lots of hate mail and death threats.
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