Homophobe National MP Brian Connell is miffed that he's been given the lowest possible ranking in caucus by party leader Don Brash. Connell claims Brash told him he was given the low position to teach him a lesson for being outspoken. "I would have liked bigger portfolios and a higher ranking based on my ability, rather than the leader slapping me around because I'm outspoken," Connell wrote in a column for the Ashburton Guardian. However, according to the NZ Herald, the party leadership regard Connell as an "untalented renegade". He last year labelled the Civil Union Bill as “the hard sell of the homosexual lifestyle” and a recruitment drive for homosexuals, despite the fact he has a lesbian sister-in-law, and said he would have voted against decriminalisation of homosexuality. “This politically correct nonsense that preaches that homosexual and lesbian relationships are the equal to marriage, and are a satisfactory environment in which to raise kids, is an absolute disgrace,” he said in a speech to Parliament in July. "We need strong people who are prepared to rail against this type of nonsense." Connell now says his ranking is "a big rat to swallow" in light of the party's stance against political correctness. "I find it ironic that an MP who is anything but PC, and who speaks his mind in the caucus and publicly, should be punished for doing exactly what Dr Brash is railing against." MP Tim Barnett, who helped shepherd the civil union legislation, today described Connell as a "rebel without a cause".
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Thursday, 3rd November 2005 - 12:00pm