A Labour shadow minister has resigned after making what she deemed ‘misjudged’ comments relating to gay marriage.
Janet Daby suggested registrars who have religious objections to same-sex marriage should be protected from losing their jobs if they refuse to certify the partnership.
The Daily Telegraph reported her as saying: ‘There needs to be something in place that protects people of faith as well as those who think the other way. It is an issue of conscience. It is like people having a choice who, for reasons of conscience, cannot participate in conducting an abortion.’
Apologised
However, the shadow minister for women, faith and equalities apologised two days later and stepped down from her frontbench role.
The Lewisham East MP wrote on Twitter: ‘I’m proud to support same-sex marriages. On Saturday Labour celebrated 15 years of civil partnerships, and all the progress we’ve made since. I sincerely apologise for my misjudged comments … and have decided to resign as Shadow Faith Minister.’
Earlier in the year she had met with church leaders to discuss their responses to the pandemic and the pressures on them. Graham Nicholls of Affinity said in September: ‘Janet’s willingness to be a strong and robust voice for the concerns of Christians, particularly of our Biblical views, within Parliament are welcome.’
