Couples told to fight ‘Nazism’

11:04am Tuesday 14th June 2005

A COMPANY offering gay people the perfect civil partnership ceremony has launched a campaign to unseat "homophobic" councillors.

Bosses at Bromley-based Modern Commitments, Elmfield Road, slammed leading councillors who last week backed a ban on same-sex weddings.

Company bosses have accused the civic leaders of "ethnic cleansing, close to Nazism".

Councillors Stephen Carr and Colin Bloom spoke in favour of Councillor Tim Stevens' decision to deny homosexuals civil ceremonies and only let them sign a register, because of a "lack of demand".

The firm's creative director Richard Jones, who has a gay partner of more than five years, revealed around 40 Bromley couples had already made plans for a civil ceremony after the Civil Partnership Act comes into force in December.

He said: "This is a shocking abuse of power and we haven't come across it anywhere else.

"We're contacting gay groups to make sure they call the council to demand they open their heart and minds to the people they are supposed to represent.

"We're also asking the gay community to withdraw their vote from these councillors and shift it to someone who supports them."

Mr Jones added: "There's the same demand in Bromley as everywhere else but the couples may now want to move elsewhere.

"Perhaps the council wants this and thinks ethnic cleansing to get people out of their borough is quite acceptable. It's homophobic and close to Nazism.

"This is about equality, people should be treated equally. They must change their position."

Cllrs Bloom, Carr and Stevens were unavailable for comment this week but new leisure portfolio holder Councillor Neil Reddin said the decision would be reviewed.

He said: "Further information and guidance has been received from the General Register Office and so I expect we will be reviewing the current policy in the light of this advice."