Lavender marriage minister.
Discussion
Living a the lie. Should he resign and stand for reelection?
The Telegraph said:
Members of the Reigate Conservative Association said they were unhappy that their MP had hidden his sexuality.
Tony Collinson, the former association chairman, who was on the selection panel when Mr Blunt was first chosen for the seat in 1997, said he would never have been picked if the truth had been known at the time.
"One of the reasons [he was selected] was because he had a nice, compact, family unit. He made quite a bit of it," said Mr Collinson, who gave up the chairmanship six years ago.
"I'm a little disappointed with the news because I don't think he would necessarily have been chosen had he come out then."
Brian Cowle, a Conservative councillor in Reigate and Banstead borough, added: "It is one of those things which we would have liked to be known before the general election, that it's been a problem for all this time.
"We all have problems and nuances in our lives; we don't go splashing it over the papers. It could add to a slight discomfort about things."
Shortly after Mr Blunt announced on Friday that he was leaving his wife of almost 20 years, Andy Mountney, the current association chairman, insisted: "We remain very supportive of him as our MP and that has been the gist of all the phone calls I have received from party members."
But behind the scenes an email was sent to Conservative councillors in the constituency, telling them: "If the press contact any of you, you are to say nothing."
One senior Reigate Conservative, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: "He's not popular because he's never here, he's always in London. From what I'm hearing, and my phone's been red-hot, people are absolutely sick of him.
"This, for a lot of people, is the final straw. I'm not uncomfortable with his sexuality, I'm unhappy about his lying, and that he stood for election knowing there was going to be this revelation."
Another added: "There is certainly one official line that this is a personal matter, but I think you will find that there are many who would not share that view.
"One constituent asked me, 'What is this clown up to?', while another said she was uncomfortable with the public nature of his revelations.
"Because he has lied for the last 13 years about his sexuality, questions will be asked over what else he has not been honest with constituents about."
Tony Collinson, the former association chairman, who was on the selection panel when Mr Blunt was first chosen for the seat in 1997, said he would never have been picked if the truth had been known at the time.
"One of the reasons [he was selected] was because he had a nice, compact, family unit. He made quite a bit of it," said Mr Collinson, who gave up the chairmanship six years ago.
"I'm a little disappointed with the news because I don't think he would necessarily have been chosen had he come out then."
Brian Cowle, a Conservative councillor in Reigate and Banstead borough, added: "It is one of those things which we would have liked to be known before the general election, that it's been a problem for all this time.
"We all have problems and nuances in our lives; we don't go splashing it over the papers. It could add to a slight discomfort about things."
Shortly after Mr Blunt announced on Friday that he was leaving his wife of almost 20 years, Andy Mountney, the current association chairman, insisted: "We remain very supportive of him as our MP and that has been the gist of all the phone calls I have received from party members."
But behind the scenes an email was sent to Conservative councillors in the constituency, telling them: "If the press contact any of you, you are to say nothing."
One senior Reigate Conservative, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: "He's not popular because he's never here, he's always in London. From what I'm hearing, and my phone's been red-hot, people are absolutely sick of him.
"This, for a lot of people, is the final straw. I'm not uncomfortable with his sexuality, I'm unhappy about his lying, and that he stood for election knowing there was going to be this revelation."
Another added: "There is certainly one official line that this is a personal matter, but I think you will find that there are many who would not share that view.
"One constituent asked me, 'What is this clown up to?', while another said she was uncomfortable with the public nature of his revelations.
"Because he has lied for the last 13 years about his sexuality, questions will be asked over what else he has not been honest with constituents about."
Perhaps he should not have lied about it but to be fair, he was doing that to everyone, including his wife and probably himself to an extent. The fact that if he had said anything he would not have got selected speaks volumes. Other than that, who cares?! Never understood why someone being gay or straight makes the slightest difference to anything - other than the obvious of course!
Fittster said:
Hopefully we have moved on from judging people on the basis of what they do with other people of a consenting age in their spare time.
Have to admit I'm curios about the wife. Did she never suspect, didn't care what he did as long as he paid the bills?
only days before their 20th anniversary, she has the money and bankrolled his career, very supportive throughout.Have to admit I'm curios about the wife. Did she never suspect, didn't care what he did as long as he paid the bills?
It's tragic when any marriage breaks down for whatever reason.
Fittster said:
Hopefully we have moved on from judging people on the basis of what they do with other people of a consenting age in their spare time.
Have to admit I'm curios about the wife. Did she never suspect, didn't care what he did as long as he paid the bills?
It's not us judging him on his spare time activities, it's him putting himself forward as a leader of society and all that entails. His values, ethics and beliefs are very important - that's a big proporion of what we vote for.Have to admit I'm curios about the wife. Did she never suspect, didn't care what he did as long as he paid the bills?
So most of the public who voted for him were voting for traditional family values (hence he made a big thing of that at election time) . . . and it's a lie, so he's fundamentally dishonest and elected on a lie.
Shoud be sacked and a fresh election run, regardless of what he does in his spare time.
rpguk said:
It makes bugger all difference in my book. And these old dinosaurs are the face of the conservative party that I find most difficult to defend.
"Because he has lied for the last 13 years about his sexuality, questions will be asked over what else he has not been honest with constituents about" Why should these questions not be asked?Pothole said:
rpguk said:
It makes bugger all difference in my book. And these old dinosaurs are the face of the conservative party that I find most difficult to defend.
"Because he has lied for the last 13 years about his sexuality, questions will be asked over what else he has not been honest with constituents about" Why should these questions not be asked?Larry Dickman said:
Pothole said:
rpguk said:
It makes bugger all difference in my book. And these old dinosaurs are the face of the conservative party that I find most difficult to defend.
"Because he has lied for the last 13 years about his sexuality, questions will be asked over what else he has not been honest with constituents about" Why should these questions not be asked?
grumbledoak said:
I really don't care about his sex life. But living a double life is a bit of a worry in that sort of position. Blackmail opportunity and Moral Compass Absent ((c) G. Broon, 1997)
Of course, if we subsequently find out he is also secretly Scottish...
Gay? No problem.Of course, if we subsequently find out he is also secretly Scottish...
Scottish
Immediate sacking required.
Randy Winkman said:
Larry Dickman said:
Pothole said:
rpguk said:
It makes bugger all difference in my book. And these old dinosaurs are the face of the conservative party that I find most difficult to defend.
"Because he has lied for the last 13 years about his sexuality, questions will be asked over what else he has not been honest with constituents about" Why should these questions not be asked?
k off. 
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