Conservative PPC Philippa Stroud ran prayer sessions to "cure" gays

[Ewe]

Link here

Glad they're so progressive these days

Exactly, omni.

To atlantis, of course the same applies to any candidate of any party: you'd expect them not to be openly hypocritical in this way. But what's different here is that Cameron is busy trying to portray the tories as 'changed', when the likes of Stroud and Grayling suggest that they have not. And Stroud is touted as one of those at the forefront of the 'new, caring conservatism'!

"To atlantis, of course the same applies to any candidate of any party: you'd expect them not to be openly hypocritical in this way. But what's different here is that Cameron is busy trying to portray the tories as 'changed', when the likes of Stroud and Grayling suggest that they have not. And Stroud is touted as one of those at the forefront of the 'new, caring conservatism'! "

Ok, but look how many muslim candidates each party has are they all supposed to list the same problem with homosexuality on their C.V's?

I agree, it's wrong to have these views, i'm not taking any candidates side here, but what I am saying is there are plenty of candidates across all parties who are running under a parties ethos and who are hypocrites, list them all, not just the one conservative and say, look aren't the conservatives bad.

Absolutely, name and shame them!

I think it is slightly different with a christian candidate actually - I myself was brought up within the CofE tradition but this actually doesnt mean being homophobic - far from it (its a broad church ).

Whereas people rightly or wrongly will assume that a Muslim candidate will hold certain views.

I would accept someone having trouble with homosexuality because of their faith - I find that abhorrent but its honest at least - what I really have a problem with is that she believes in demons and is therefore anti-science - this to me suggests a serious lack of judgement.

"what I really have a problem with is that she believes in demons and is therefore anti-science - this to me suggests a serious lack of judgement. "

Agreed. But then so do many other's who believe creationalism should be taught as fact instead of what science has proved.

"Absolutely, name and shame them! "

Couldn't agree more.

It will be interesting to see how Stroud responds to this. She'll need to repudiate those views now if she wants to salvage any credibility at all.

I would ask her but they always consult their clipboards and stride straight past my house.

She will surely be keeping her head down until Thursday anyway?

btw I fished out her literature and 3/4s of it is Cameron - only a brief introductory blurb is her.

I've been in the kind of prayer sessions that would have been held, and they're not fun. Pippa Stroud has done some amazingly good work with the poor, but this is of a different order and I think she should step down.

" but this is of a different order and I think she should step down. "

Along with all the other candidates who hold these views I take it?

If they've prayed for homosexual demons to come out of people then I'd question their fitness to govern, aye.

Kay - I have met a lot of women like this as well - they become like it because their husbands are ministers in this sort of church - which looks like the case here which leads to other questions about strength of ones own mind etc.

Well NewFrontiers churches do have an all male leadership policy if memory serves.

She has responded

?I make no apology for being a committed Christian. However, it is categorically untrue that I believe homosexuality to be an illness and I am deeply offended that The Observer has suggested otherwise. I have spent 20 years working with disturbed people who society have turned their back on and are not often supported by state agencies; drug addicts, alcoholics, the mentally ill and the homeless that I and my charitable friends in the public sector have tried to help over the years. The idea that I am prejudiced against gay people is both false and insulting.?

I assume she will sue them if it is completely untrue. I still wouldn't be comfortable voting for her to be honest and that goes for anyone with extreme views that I fundamentally disagree with, regardless of the political party.

This is an interesting article from the FT on the Christian influence on the Conservative Party.

Please let us be sensible and not believe every spin a "liberal" paper reports and then make very broad sweeping statements! I first personally met Philippa in Middlesbrough when running a charity supporting refugees.She was incredibly compassionate and interested in the stories our clients shared.She was inspiring with her drive to help those on the margins of society.She is certainly not a crank or bigot but someone who has a real drive to make a change for those who are most vulnerable in society.

Atlantis - how can you complain that some one has started a thread about this lady when you yourself started a thread linked to the daily mail saying the lib dems had a few eccentric candidates.
Double standards eh?

Philippa Stroud is a fantastic MP and has massive support in Cheam..(I live near there)

Good luck on thursday Philippa..!

Do you daftpunk? -well I'm glad you're splitting her vote against Paul Burstow by voting bnp then. And surely you mean will be a fantastic mp - she aint one yet...

And as you live here you will know that Cheam, South Sutton and Belmont always vote blue - if you look at the last London elections you'll see by how much but the rest of the borough is firmly yellow.

And theres a lot of whisperings on the trains and at the school gates about her not being local so not as cut and dried as you think...

How do you know she is a fantastic MP - she is a candidate?

I've heard the current lib dem MP is very good though. Hope he keeps his seat.

Sutton & Cheam is a marginal...she needs to win it ...DC has been focusing on Cheam..you know that..

Sorry for typo...should have said she's a fantastic candidate...she will be a fantastic MP of course....Paul Burstow has been in too long....he needs to go.

Yes quite right - lets get rid of mps just because they've been there too long - doesnt matter that Burstow is the 'hardest working mp in london'(Evening Standard) or 'an expenses saint'(Telegraph)...

Am not even a natural lib dem voter but if you've got a good local MP then I dont see the problem tbh.

She needs to win it but I don't think it will be easy, I know of a couple of people who are reluctant to campaign for her off back of this.

Paul Burstow is incumbent MP, works very hard and is LD chief whip. With the general surge in LD support nationally this makes it a difficult seat, it's gone from one the Tories thought was in the bag to one they are now desperately throwing more and more cash and resources to out of fear of not winning.

I can't believe none of the other papers or news sites have picked up on it, either they can't authenticate or we really are just being manipulated by press.

Ewe;

I've been told she's removed her Facebook page and has deleted herself from Twitter..

Is that right..?

Thats the unfairness of the system. The tories can throw more and more money to buy parliamentary seats.