Labour peer Lord Alli: David Cameron ‘changed the centre ground’ by legalising equal marriage
Labour peer Lord Alli paid tribute to David Cameron and Tony Blair for their role in advancing LGBT equality in Britain at last night’s Stonewall Awards.
Lord Alli was named Stonewall’s Hero of the Year, along with the Russian LGBT Network. On accepting the award Lord Alli said: “I am truly humbled. I want to say thank you, if I may, to a few people: three individuals; two organisations; and, an idea.
“Let me start with the three individuals: two of the prime ministers. To Tony Blair: for the equalisation of the age of consent; civil partnerships; same-sex adoption; immigration that paved the way for where we are today. To David Cameron: for the courage to put forward a (same-sex marriage) bill like this, to change the centre ground. And I know he’ll hate me saying it, but to Ben Summerskill: The work he does that he does behind the scenes to make it happen and for the laughter he brings with it.”
Along with paying tribute to the Russian LGBT Network, Lord Alli commended his colleagues in the House of Lords for voting to support the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act with a bigger majority than in the Commons in June.
He added: “And to the House of Lords, what a long way its come. 390 votes, 390 votes. We showed the House of Commons how to do it. And finally to a very simple idea: we’re all born equal and long may we fight for that.”