Stephen Fry demands Tory change on Europe
Stephen Fry demands Tory change on Europe
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By Matt Hallam. |  |
Tuesday, 06, Oct 2009 01:39
By inthenews.co.uk staff.
Stephen Fry is among several signatories of a letter urging David Cameron to reconsider the Tory alliance with the Polish Law and Justice party.
The Conservative leader has been criticised for aligning with radical right-wing bodies such as the Polish group as he attempts to move the Tories from the centre-right European People's party in the European parliament.
Along with Fry, comedians Eddie Izzard and Jo Brand as well as actor Patrick Stewart have signed the letter, which was reprinted by political blog LabourList.
Also signed by the general secretaries of the Unite trade union, the letter applauds the Conservatives' decision to host a gay rights event at their party conference in Manchester but warns of the homophobic policies of the Polish Law and Justice party.
"Your Party's decision to host an LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual] event at conference is a good step in the right direction," the letter states.
"But it will seem empty - a two faced gesture - if in the same week you fawn over allies whose homophobia has no place in modern Manchester, in modern Britain, or in Europe.
"Mr Cameron we want to believe the Conservative party has really changed - please help us by rescinding the invite to the Polish Law and Justice Party and urging them either to change their views or quit your new European group."
After Fry published the link to the letter on his page on microblogging site Twitter, thousands of his followers visited LabourList, causing the site to crash.