Stonewall Hustings

An enjoyable and instructive event at the BFI Southbank this morning, elegantly chaired by Tony Grew. To listen to the whole 90 minutes CLICK HERE. Highlights include Livingstone's most politic defence so far of the Yusuf Al-Qaradawi affair, a cheeky question to Johnson about life at Eton from the Telegraph's Andrew Pierce and The Blond's unconvincing attempt to justify his initial support for Section 28 on the grounds that he believes in liberty.

Here's the Pierce question and Johnson's answer. Perhaps the most revealing thing he says is not that he hasn't tried gay sex - or had it tried on him while at Eton - or that half his campaign team is gay, but that he thinks it's time to stop judging people by "where they're coming from." The second question in the clip is Livingstone about alleged corruption in his administration. He gives Associated Newspapers a good rollicking.

Now here's Livingstone on the Al-Qaradawi affair that soured his previously excellent relationships with LGBT London. It's the most temperate and conciliatory response I've yet seen him offer, though it won't satisfy everyone.

Finally, Boris gets into a muddle about liberty, the state, three men and a dog (see pic). The questioner wondered why he'd changed his views on homosexuality. Trust me to move the camera at the moment when he thumped the table.

Lindsay German, the Left List candidate, and Brian Paddick try to help him out of his confusion. Ken Livingstone leaves him to stew in it. His campaign is now drawing attention to Johnson's disinclination to apologise for offence caused in the past.
I'm told that afterwards a member of Team Boris complained that Grew was too hard on their boy.

For more on the events read Grew's story for Pink News and The Tory Troll.

UPDATE: For a better video clip of Boris on Section 28 and liberty, look here.

Comments

[David Boothroyd]

I was there and I thought Ken put up a good show and defence when criticised; Brian Paddick tried a few rabble-rousing lines of which only about half worked. Sian Berry was very straightforward and came across well; I was surprised Lindsay German was not tackled about her 'shibboleths' quote.

But the stand-out was Boris who was utterly useless. His opening speech was a standard campaign speech into which he shoehorned two mentions of "the LGBT community" without commenting on anything actually specific. When questioned he gave obviously incorrect explanations for his past statements.

Anyone who votes for Boris on the grounds that his policy for the LGBT community is better than the other candidates would have to be stark staring bonkers.

[Dave Cole]

Good write-up, Dave. It must go with the name, as I have a write up over at my blog - http://davecole.org/blog/2008/04/22/the-stonewall-hustings/.