Liberal Democrats and Ruth Kelly

Current status: update - Lorely Burt 'clarifies' her remarks.

A Liberal Democrat spokeswoman has called upon Ruth KellySecretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government, to reign solely because of her Catholic faith.

Key quote: Lorely Burt, Lib Dem equality spokeswoman, said: "We had always feared Ruth Kelly's personal beliefs would make her unsuitable to be a champion of gay rights. Unfortunately these fears have become reality and she should now stand down."

See the full Telegraph report.

This amazing demand -- discrimination on the basis of religion, in order to save a law which outlaws discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation -- neatly sums up the debate on the Sexual Orientation Regulations. (On these, see here.)

Please send messages of support to Ms Kelly.
And protests to Lorely Burt and Lib Dem leader, Sir Menzies Campbell.

You can use the parliament email form for each of them, see here.

Update: Lorely Burt writes a letter to the Catholic Herald.
Saying the CH report on her remarks weas 'a complete distortion of my position', she goes on: 'My disquiet with Ruth Kelly concerns not her beliefs but her actions. They are based on reports that she has actively delayed partliamentary consideration of regulations to extend the same protection already granted to religious groups, Catholics included, to those of different sexual orientations.'

What Burt actually said (quoted in the Telegraph): "We had always feared that Ruth Kelly's personal beliefs would make her unsuitable to be a champion of gay rights. Unfortunately these fears have become reality and she should now stand down."

Burt is clearly embarassed by the reaction to her comments.