Tory MEP Claims homophobia is propaganda and does not exist

[marshlander]

What on earth do people expect Cameron to do about Helmer? ... The only other act for Cameron is to give Helmer a purely symbolic 'public dressing down' which would only give publicity from his comments and distract from Cameron's agenda of the Economy and the NHS.

Point taken.

I don't understand why everyone gets so worked up about obvious cranks saying such cranky things.

What may be obvious to us may not be obvious to all. Presenting a different point of view is important when what he says will have bad consequences if allowed to spread unchallenged. His keeping company with his "good friend" Mr Kaminsky will undoubtedly please some who oppose gay rights in Poland. Mr Kaminsky is no stranger to controversy on gay issues. Some people don't need to look very hard for justification of anti-gay activity while the views of people like Helmer and Kaminsky are allowed to pass without challenge.

I find myself divided over whether Helmer should lose his Conservative membership or not. At least while he's there we can all see that some Tory traditions are not a thing of the past as David Cameron would try to have us believe.