Leadership hopeful Owen Smith labelled homophobic for declaring himself a ‘normal’ dad-of-three
The comment sparked fury because the Pontypridd MP is battling openly-gay Angela Eagle for the Labour leadership
LABOUR leadership hopeful Owen Smith was plunged into a homophobia row last night after declaring himself “normal” as a dad-of-three.
The comment sparked fury because the Pontypridd MP is battling openly-gay Angela Eagle for the right to challenge Jeremy Corbyn.
During a TV interview, Mr Smith said: “I’m glad you think I’m normal. I am normal. I grew up in a normal household. I’ve got a wife and three children. My wife is a primary school teacher.”
But gay MPs and campaigners were quick to attack the careless remark.
And it was compared to failed Tory leadership candidate and mum-of-three Andrea Leadsom’s decision to highlight Theresa May’s “really sad” lack of children.
Tory MP Ben Howlett told The Sun: “Language is incredibly important when deciding to lead the Labour Party, and thus our country.
“I know plenty of ‘normal’ gay couples with children and the LGBT community will find his comments frankly insulting.”
Ruth Hunt, chief executive of equality campaign group Stonewall, tweeted: “I think the word ‘normal’, when one is running against an openly gay woman, should be deployed with extreme care.”
And Tory MP Mike Freer, who claimed he was outed to religious voters by Labour canvassers during last year’s general election, said: “It is not surprising that the commitment to equality is sometimes more show than substance in elements of the Labour Party.
“Labour fought a dirty campaign in Finchley at the last election and now Angela Eagle is having snide asides from her competitor.”
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Ms Eagle’s camp refused to comment on the furore.
But an aide to Mr Smith said: “He was just trying to say that he is an ordinary person, proud to live and represent his own community in Parliament.”
The row came as Mr Corbyn received a major boost in his bid to cling on – as MPs failed to agree on a single challenger to take him on.
Mr Smith and Ms Eagle appeared alongside the embattled Labour leader at a hustings designed to help pick one contender.
But while Mr Smith said he would stand aside if Ms Eagle gets more support from MPs, his rival was unwilling to make the same pledge.
The latest shambolic move in the coup against Mr Corbyn opponents unable to sign up new supporters behind a “unity” candidate – with the deadline for registering on Wednesday.
And it left the party facing the nightmare scenario of a three-way leadership contest with the result announced on September 24.
The first indication of how many MPs are backing which candidate will emerge.
Meanwhile Labour Deputy Leader Tom Watson revealed Unite union boss Len McCluskey blocked attempts to convince Mr Corbyn to quit.
He also predicted Mr Corbyn would be unable to put together a shadow ministerial team if he wins again.
And former Shadow Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood launched a devastating attack on the “incompetent” leader as she laid bare a number of times he undermined her efforts.
MPs were last night still desperately trying to broker a deal to ensure only one of Mr Smith and Ms Eagle fights Mr Corbyn - possibly by putting them on a joint ticket as leader and shadow chancellor.
Meanwhile the Labour website crashed several times as supporters rushed to sign up and have a say in the leadership election.