Tag Archives: Labour Party

Will the Labour Party be Brave Enough to Appoint a Lesbian MP for their Leader?

Ever since Ed Milland resigned as party leader, rumours have been circulating about who will step forward to take the Leadership.

One MP being considered is Wallasey MP Angela Eagle, who happens to also be a lesbian.

Mr Miliband resigned as party leader after the Conservatives won an absolute majority in the General Election.

Labour’s deputy leader Harriet Harman – who is serving as acting leader until a new leader is chosen – has also announced she plans to step down, leading to a second leadership vacancy.

Ms Eagle sits on the centre left of the party and has represented the Wallasey constituency since 1992. She has also served as a Minister under Gordon Brown and is currently Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, is one of just three out lesbians currently in Parliament.

Ms Eagle, who was re-elected with a 38-point lead in her Wallasey constituency, is thought to be considering a run to replace Labour leader Ed Miliband, who resigned yesterday.

A source told the Liverpool Echo:

Angela’s thinking about running the Labour leadership or deputy leadership. She’s popular with members, the PLP (Parliamentary Labour Party), and unions.”

The source said her experience as former chair of the party would stand her in good stead, as would her current positions as chair of Labour’s national policy forum and shadow leader of the House of Commons.

She would face stiff competition from rumoured front-runners Chuka Umunna, Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper and Dan Jarvis – making a run for deputy leader more plausible.

Angela Eagle 02

Ms Eagle’s twin sister, Maria Eagle, is also an MP.

Labour’s Shadow Minister says Restrictions on UK Civil Partnership Conversion are ‘Discriminatory and Unfair’

Gloria De Piero, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities has voiced concern over the regulations for converting civil partnerships to marriage, where the ceremonies can take place, and a lack of a marriage certificate for those couples.

In June, the UK Government announced that from the 10th December 2014 couples already in civil partnerships can convert to marriage.

However, Ms De Piero says the regulations state couples can only convert to marriage in a register office with a Superintendent Registrar present, which exempts many register offices and all religious venues.

In a letter addressed to newly appointed Minister for Women and Equalities Nicky Morgan, Ms De Piero also states “serious concern” over the fact that couples will also not be issued a marriage licence on converting, only a slip saying the conversion has taken place.

She writes:

“For so many couples across the country, the conversion of their civil partnership will be a moment no less important to them as to those getting married for the first time. Why has the Government chosen to place such restrictions on civil partnership conversions?”

Gloria De Piero

Ms De Piero calls the new regulations “both discriminatory and unfair”, and asks the Government to consider amending the regulations before they are approved, offering the support of Labour to do so.