Gay row showed Cameron's 'weakness'

Having been suspended as the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party candidate in North Ayrshire and Arran, I am now working with the full support of local party members and volunteers to win the seat and sit in parliament as an independent.

The accusations by the Scottish chairman Andrew Fulton and leader David Cameron that I made "deeply offensive" remarks about homosexuals are scandalous and unjustified. They smack of opportunism of the worst kind; our North Ayrshire and Arran Association was expendable in the drive to make "Dave" look decisive and strong.

Mr Cameron proved he is frighteningly weak, as his knee-jerk reaction (in the absence of the full facts and spurred on by obsequious advisers) should give cause for concern as a potential prime minister. The Conservative Party demanded all candidates publish a declaration of interests for this election. It was in this spirit of transparency and honesty that I published the statement on a Sunday night on my website, my reason being that while at church that morning, I heard about the Church of Scotland's dilemma over how to avoid being in breach of equality laws if they did not agree to employ openly homosexual ministers and other staff.

I felt I had to stand up for what I believe is best for our country, and also for the very openness and honesty my party claims to want from candidates and MPs.

As a teacher, I object to the indoctrination of children on anything, let alone homosexuality. Surely in a free society, parents have the right to decide the values and morals they wish their children to be brought up with.

David Cameron says he wants them to run their own schools, but they must subject their children to compulsory lessons on homosexuality, even in faith schools. This from the man who previously voted to keep clause 28/ section 2a!

I am a true believer in freedom within a basic principle that your own behaviour should not unnecessarily or intentionally affect or offend others. It is with this in mind that I stated clearly – as a candidate in a democratic election – that "tolerance and understanding is one thing, but state-promotion of homosexuality is quite another".

In Britain we are being subjugated by the state and an agenda of militant left wing views deviously implemented via the Trojan horse of "equality".

Not only have I been dismissed by the Conservative Party, but following threats made by militant homosexual groups to have me removed from the General Teaching Council's register, I have been informed that I have been put under a "precautionary suspension" from my job as a teacher – a shocking fact, virtually ignored by the media.

My name is still on the ballot papers for the election, and if the voters in North Ayrshire and Arran want to show they have had enough of being bullied and cowed by a totalitarian government and media, now is their chance to elect someone to represent them and their common-sense views, and send a shock-wave through Westminster politics.

PHILIP LARDNER

Erskine

Renfrewshire