Labour MP Peter Swallow told the Commons that supporting LGBT rights was ‘fundamental to our British values’ after Reform’s Danny Kruger appeared to liken it to backing Hamas
Nigel Farage faces fresh pressure to act after one of his MPs appeared to suggest supporting LGBT rights was similar to backing Hamas.
A Labour MP told the Commons the remark by Danny Kruger, first revealed by The Mirror, was “beyond the pale”. Tory defector Mr Kruger sparked outrage after moaning the UK could face an “LGBT supporting” alliance.
He made the remark during a Reform UK membership drive broadcast on YouTube – listing things he claimed the public had rejected. Raising a point of order in the Commons, Labour’s Peter Swallow said LGBT rights are “fundamental to our British values”.
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Mr Swallow urged MPs to make this clear to Mr Kruger and Reform. He said: “This weekend the honorable member for East Wiltshire (Mr Kruger) suggested on a Reform UK broadcast that the country could soon be run by an appalling Hamas supporting, supporting nationalist party.
“As a gay man and an MP, I’m proud to say I will always support LGBT rights. And to suggest that that support is the same as backing Hamas, a vile terrorist organization which systematically persecutes LGBT people, is beyond the pale.”
And he pondered: “What can we do across this House to make it clear to him and his party that supporting LGBT rights is fundamental to our British values and the values of this Parliament?”
The Mirror has contacted Reform for comment. Mr Kruger – son of TV host Prue Leith – warned the UK could soon be led by an “appalling Hamas-supporting, LGBT-supporting nationalist party”.
He said Reform was “up against Lib Dems, Labour, Greens, we’ve got the nationalists in Wales and Scotland, there’s Corbyn”. Mr Kruger went on: “You know that shows how bad things are in our country.
“What I worry about is they’re going to get together after the next election and have some sort of appalling, you know, Hamas-supporting, LGBT-supporting, you know, nationalist party against the United Kingdom trying to get us back into the EU.”
He went on: “All the things that the British people have rejected time and again. The only way to stop that is Reform. And so that means, you know, including if you’re a former Conservative, I’m afraid to say, you’ve got to join us.”
Following the remark, Polly Billington, Labour MP for East Thanet, told The Mirror : “Danny Kruger’s remarks are outdated and out of line. Stirring up division is Reform’s stock in trade and now LGBT people are being targeted. His words have direct consequences in our communities and should be condemned by Nigel Farage.”