According to research by PinkNews, Gordon Brown, has consistently failed to support gay rights in parliament since the Labour party was elected in 1997. Research by them shows that he has never attended parliament when gay rights have been voted on whilst Labour has been in power. They say:

Mr Brown has on 14 separate occasions failed to attend Commons votes when issues relating to gay equality were voted on. He failed to support the government’s equalisation of the age of consent, the abolition of Section 28, gay couples being able to jointly adopt, civil partnerships and the Equality Act. The registration of civil partnerships are the responsibility of the Treasury, the department that Mr Brown heads.

In late July, the Labour rebel John McDonnell, MP for Hayes & Harlington declared his intent to challenge Mr Brown for the leadership of the Labour party. Unlike Mr Brown, Mr McDonnell has voted positively in every one of the fourteen divisions relating to gay equality held since 1997.

Mr Brown could possibly argue that he was “too busy” to attend the votes. However, even with his greater work load, Mr Blair managed to attend four divisions relating to equalising the age of consent and allowing gay couples to jointly adopt.

Indeed, Mr Brown could be considered to posses a worse record than David Cameron, the leader of the Conservatives.

Odd that Brown has been “too busy” to vote for gay rights. You’d thought he be happy to help out…