Friday, March 06, 2009

Pink News Publishes its '2009 Top Gayers in Politics' List

Pink News has just published its annual Top 50 Gay People in Politics list, which you can see HERE. Quite how I have managed to rise 9 places to number 19 is best left to the compilers to justify. But it's always nice to rise rather than fall. Perhaps a more notable fact is that of the top 20, eight are Conservatives.

1. Peter Mandelson, Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.
2. Nick Brown, Chief Whip
3. Nick Herbert, Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
4. Angela Eagle, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury
5. Evan Davis, Presenter, Today programme, BBC Radio 4
6. Ben Bradshaw, Minister of State for Health Services
7. Nick Boles. Conservative parliamentary candidate for Grantham and Stamford
8. Ray Collins, General Secretary of the Labour party
9. Chris Bryant, Deputy Leader of the House of Commons
10. Margot James, Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for Stourbridge
11. Kirsty McNeill, Political Adviser, No10 Downing St
12. Alan Duncan, Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
13. Sir Simon Milton, Deputy Mayor of London for Policy and Planning
14. Ben Summerskill, Chief Executive, Stonewall
15. Greg Barker, Shadow Minister for Climate Change
16. Steven Purcell, leader of Glasgow Council
17. Dan Ritterband, Director of Marketing for London
18. Spencer Livermore, Head of Strategy and Planning, Blue Rubicon
19. Iain Dale, Blogger
20. Michael Cashman, MEP for the West Midlands
The full list can be seen HERE.

27 comments:

Unknown said...

Alan Duncan's gay? Didn't know that.

Not that it matters one iota, before the lefties get their knickers in a twist. I said the same thing when I learned that Yvette Cooper is actually Mrs Ed Balls, "didn't know that" either.

Rob said...

How on earth did Chris Bryant make the list. The only reason he's still an MP was that he was parachuted into one of Labour's safest seats. Surprised Alan Duncan wasn't higher. He always comes across well, be it in the commons, in interviews or on things like Question Time.

yellowbelly said...

"Quite how I have managed to rise 9 places to number 19 is best left to the compilers to justify. But it's always nice to rise rather than fall."

===

Copyright "Carry On" films circa. 1970!

Simon Gardner said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anoneumouse said...

Do we really care?

pxcentric said...

19th? Ya big girl's blouse.

Simon Gardner said...

“Comment deleted This post has been removed by a blog administrator.”

I just knew that was going to happen.

And yes we do care when he goes around trying to bully pregnant young women with absolutely no empathy and zero understanding nor sympathy. I years ago heard a rumour from David Boothroyd - who might be in a position to know...

Trend Shed said...

I can see why Mandelson is in at number 1 - but how did he make number 3 last year?

I thought his double resignation and exile to Europe had dented his influence - until Gordon rehabilitated him.

brimoy said...

ONLY 19th??????

Raedwald said...

Is it to my credit or discredit that I had no idea that 60% of those on the list are gay?

Simon Gardner said...

I can’t believe anyone didn’t know Alan Duncan is gay. I mean he’s sooo camp.

Conand said...

It's always a genuine pleasure to watch Iain rise.

Paul Halsall said...

It's really odd Nick Partridge is not in this list.

Perhaps he's straight, or does HIV not count as political any more?

Rob said...

Titter Ye not!

golden_balls said...

I agree the big story for me is that the conservatives are realising that being gay isn't a disadvantage

not to be hidden away like like the black sheep of the family.

its one of the few things i applaud cameron for.

if only you were an mp ian you'd be higher give it another 12 months perhaps ;-)

The Grim Reaper said...

Uncle Bob said "How on earth did Chris Bryant make the list?"

Search in Google for "Chris Bryant" and "underpants", and you'll see how.

BrianSJ said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Simon Gardner said...

Is it OK if I ask if [comment deleted] is straight Iain? Or will that get removed too?

Wrinkled Weasel said...

I notice the list puts Stephen Twigg at number 32, being almost certain to get a very safe Labour seat. (Somebody may know how safe)

I have very mixed feelings about him. On the one hand, he summed up the spirit of 1997, with the sublime Portillo moment, and on the other..look what we got...11 years of destruction.

Wikidpedia says of Twigg:

On 12 December 2005, Twigg was arrested in central London for being drunk and incapable in a public place and taken to Marylebone police station. He was fined £50. Twigg commented "I had had a lot to drink and I think it [the police action] was sensible. I have no complaints whatsoever. I take full responsibility for my actions."

Nice to see he puts his hands up to misdemeanors in his personal life. Shame he did not extend that candour and honesty to his ministerial role.

see:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2004/oct/05/schools.uk4

and here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2001/sep/09/uk.education

"A high-flying Labour Minister has secretly held a two-year directorship of a property company hoping to develop student accommod-ation with the help of private finance initiative funding, a policy fiercely opposed by left-wing MPs and unions.

The Observer can reveal that Stephen Twigg, who ousted Michael Portillo as MP for Enfield Southgate in the 1997 general election, has never declared the directorship in the House of Commons register of members' interests. Last night he said: 'On reflection, it would have been better to have done so.' "

Another snout, another trough. Can't they find candidates with moral fibre?

Anonymous said...

I don't see Mark Meredith, elected mayor of Stoke-on-Trent... perhaps just as well now, huh?

Anonymous said...

What a sad list.

John Coles said...

Means bugger all to me.

Anonymous said...

Simon,please come and live on my estate for a couple of weeks.Your ignorant braying about poor single mothers would get very short shift from their neighbours that have to pay for and put up with them.Not only that but you would actually see first hand how the poor dears live and drag,not bring,up their brats.
You may be well educated but you know nothing firsthand about conditions on a rough council estate.It is people like you that encourage them to live on benefits,why?does it make you feel even more superior?

Old Holborn said...

Dammit Iain

ANOTHER bet lost at Ladbrokes that you could go a hole weak without telling us all that you bowl from the Pavillion end.

JPT said...

Does it matter if someone is gay or straight?
If it does why no list of straight politicians?
Do you like being labelled, Iain??

Iain Dale said...

Whether I like it or not is immaterial. I accept it as inevitable.

Simon Gardner said...

JPT said... “Does it matter if someone is gay or straight?”

When you have an allegedly gay politician - F***** F**** going around trying to bully pregnant young women with absolutely no empathy and zero understanding nor sympathy - because of a personal antipathy to pregnancy - then it matters a great deal.

If a politician allows their sexuality to intrude detrimentally into public policy it can matter a lot; it depends on the circumstances.

History is also littered with closet gay politicians who affect fiercely homophobic public positions - often very nasty ones - which directly influences legislation. This happens here as well as in the US.

So yes, it doesn’t always matter but it certainly can matter.