Openly gay National Party MP, Chris Finlayson, has denied that the new liberal National group, the ‘Blue Libs', is designed to court the gay vote, contrary to rumours abounding in cyberspace and on the radio waves. Labour party activist Jordan Carter has labelled the new group, launched last week in Wellington, as “the Labour Party branch of the National Party”, saying Finlayson would be the only person with the “stomach to be involved with a liberal queer group which tried to deny what it's whole purpose was.” Launch attendee, Steve Gray, in a call to Radio New Zealand's Morning Report, said it was the “strangest thing” that the words ‘gay' or ‘homosexual' weren't even mentioned, given he and others “were invited along as gay men.” This is a “nonsense” says Finlayson, who thought Gray's call to Radio New Zealand, may even have been a “spoof.” The Blue Libs were formed in an effort to enable National party supporters a forum for “returning to the National Party's roots in liberal thought – which is not the same as [Labour's] social democratic” tradition, says Finlayson. Finlayson notes the confusion surrounding the use of the term ‘liberal', which is deployed pejoratively in the United States, and used in Australia for the conservative party of John Howard – the Liberal Party. Finlayson prefers the definition of ‘liberalism' captured by Sir John Marshall: “I have the right to live my own life in my own way provided only that this does not interfere with the rights of others. I should be free to do as I wish, subject only to the rule of law.” The Blue Libs are a policy advisory group, says Finlayson, and while they are interested in liberal economic policy, the group will also focus on policy relating to the arts. “There's no reason to think Labour has a monopoly on the arts,” he says, pointing to the fact that the Historic Places Trust, the Arts Council and the Film Commission, were all formed under a National government. People were invited to the launch on the basis of their interest in liberalism, including those involved with the arts, says Finlayson. “Having said that, if gay people are interested in coming along, that's fabulous!” But he says it's not about “identity politics – I'm not involving myself in that. That's old hat.” Right-wing political commentator David Farrar has welcomed the new group. “It's basically the group for people who are both market and social liberals, like myself,” he notes on his Internet blog. Ref: GayNZ.com, National Radio (d)
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Thursday, 3rd August 2006 - 12:00pm