In our exclusive Johann Hari interview in this month's issue , David Cameron denies he voted against gay adoption and insists he "abstained" on the vote:
" I start to go over his record beyond Section 28 – and slap into a brick wall. In 2002 he voted against allowing gay couples to adopt. Yet when I ask him why, he flatly denies it. He says: "No... we were three-line-whipped on that vote and I abstained on it." I point him to Hansard, which records his vote against gay marriage in cold, black ink. He says "my memory" is that he abstained, and that he now thinks "the ideal adoption is finding a mum and a dad, but there will be occasions when gay couples make very good adoptive parents. So I support gay adoption."
It has now emerged that despite Cameron's denial, the truth is he voted
against gay adoption, favouring adoption for specifically 'married' couples.
He also voted for an amendment to allow unmarried couples to adopt which specifically excluded gay couples.
The amendment he backed sought to replace the words 'whether of different sexes or the same sex' with 'of different sexes' - in other words it would have
deleted the right of 'same sex' couples to adopt.
This is not the first time he has misled people about this either...
David Cameron: I came to the conclusion, the thing we voted on is when a person adopts should you take into account the fact that they are in a stable relationship and…
Adam Boulton: But you didn’t vote.
David Cameron: I abstained on a three line whip.
Adam Boulton: But you voted against it twice previously.
David Cameron: I abstained on a three line whip which was …
Adam Boulton: You voted against it twice.
David Cameron: I abstained on the three line whip, Adam. I haven’t been through Hansard.
(Sky News, 24/11/05)
The revelation of these inconsistencies is likely to cause controversy within the gay community. What do you think? Can we trust David Cameron?