Gay and lesbian marriage ties up Bromley

The saga of the proposed ban on gay marriage in Bromley got even odder last week, with a tied vote on the issue in the Council Chamber. They voted 21 : 21, with 4 abstentions.

The Tories split, with the Leader Stephen Carr calling the legalisation of gay marriage "immoral" ... and ex-Leader Michael Tickner saying "what about the rights of straight people and people who have normal sexual tendencies ?" Other leading Tories, such as Environment Executive Member George Taylor, spoke and voted to accept and implement the law. It's not clear where Bromley goes now, after this inconclusive result puts the issue back in the hands of the Executive.

Regional Tories had hoped that Carr's election as Leader two years ago would see an end to the succession of dim reactionary Leaders like Tickner and Russell Mellor. Clearly a forlorn hope. Taylor is regarded as too bright and too associated with the 21st Century to win the Leadership. The old stagers are nostalgic for the days of Dennis ("no to Fares Fair") Barkway, who at least only made Bromley hated rather than a laughing stock as well.