Not a good day for the Conservatives - one former candidate endorses the Liberal Democrats as one candidate is suspended

Not a great day for the Scottish Conservatives today, firstly Chris Walker, the former Conservative candidate for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk comes out to back Liberal Democrats Michael Moore to win and then only hours later North Ayshire & Arran Conservative candidate Philip Lardner is suspended over his homophobic views.

Chris Walker has been very brave to come forward and publicly support another party's candidate and it is great to see his obviously sincere words about Michael Moore.

John Lamont heard the news from BBCs Richard Gordon apparently, just as Lamont was about to welcome SamCam.......ouch!

You can read about Chris Walkers endorsement of Michael Moore here.

Then onto the appalling attitude of primary school teacher and Conservative candidate Philip Lardner.

Thanks to Pink News the shameful content of the Conservative candidates website has not just been brushed aside and swept under the carpet.

"The promotion of homosexuality by public bodies (as per 'clause 28′/section 2a in Scotland,) was correctly outlawed by Mrs Thatcher's government. Toleration and understanding is one thing, but state-promotion of homosexuality is quite another."

This just shows that the deep vein that runs through right wing Conservatives is still there, alive and well but now covered up by a brushing of foundation to hide the blemishes.
Philip Lardener goes on;

"Christians (and most of the population) believe homosexuality to be somewhere between 'unfortunate' and simply 'wrong' and they should not be penalised for politely saying so – good manners count too, of course.


"The current 'law' is wrong and must be overturned in the interests of freedom as well as Christian values."

From the BBC News website;

Mr Lardner had been reinstated to the party in 2008 after a previous suspension over claims he made racist comments by portraying former leader of white-rule Rhodesia, Ian Smith, as a hero.

This line obviously begs the question why and how was this person allowed to go through and represent a Party (Yes, I would the same about a Lib Dem too) with these awful views?

Unfortunately for the good people of North Ayshire & Arran, Philip Lardner will still appear as the Conservative candidate on the ballot paper on May 6, despite the swift suspension of Lardner by the Conservative Party.

Recently, Tory MP Chris Grayling was recorded saying he agreed bed and breakfast owners should have the right to bar gay couples if they wish.

Meanwhile, Julian Lewis, the incumbent MP for New Forest East and shadow defence minister, told a constituent that he was against equalising the age of consent for gay men as he believes gay sex carries a high risk of AIDS - full story here.


If you want to read about the Conservatives record in the House of Commons then you can do so here.

They haven't changed, just trying to cover it up to get votes.  The support for the Conservatives has dropped from LGBT people, while support for the Liberal Democrats has soared.