Cameron dumps Chris Grayling in favour of Theresa May as home secretary and equalities minister
Theresa May has been appointed home secretary and minister for equality.
Chris Grayling was expected to get the job but he was dumped by David Cameron after a string of gaffes including suggesting that Christian bed and breakfast owners should have the right to ban gay couples.
He failed to get the job despite shadowing the role for almost a year and a half.
Mrs May has been been appointed home secretary and minister for women and equality in the new Conservative/ Liberal Democrat coalition government led by prime minister David Cameron and Nick Clegg deputy prime minister. As equalities minister (a role Mrs May has already shadowed), she will be responsible for issues relating to LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered rights).
Last month, speaking at an event entitled ‘a Conservative Home Office’ held at the Centre for Policy Studies Chris Grayling said: “I think we need to allow people to have their own consciences,” it was recorded he said. “I personally always took the view that, if you look at the case of should a Christian hotel owner have the right to exclude a gay couple from a hotel, I took the view that if it’s a question of somebody who’s doing a B&B in their own home, that individual should have the right to decide who does and who doesn’t come into their own home.”
Mr Grayling was making reference to Susannne and Mike Wilkinson, who own the Swiss B&B in Berskhire and hit hit the national news for turning away a gay couple who had booked a room.
Mr Grayling subequently apologised but was heavily criticsed by gay rights campaigners and rival politcans. He was considered to be unsuitable for the post of home secretary by new deputy prime minister Nick Clegg,
