In a joint
letter to Prime Minster David Cameron, they said Team GB’s participation in the
Games “would lend credibility to a
European country which has introduced an extremely dangerous piece of
legislation, threatening the human rights of millions of its citizens”.
Said KCC
Councillor Martin Whybrow: “Last summer Kent hosted 36 Olympic and 8 Paralympic
training camps and thousands of people from the county volunteered as Game
Makers. These experiences mean that, as
a community, Kent people understand more than most the unique inclusive spirit
that makes the modern Olympic movement – a spirit which has no place for the
bigotry demonstrated by the Russian government.”
Councillor
Ian Driver added: “In 2011 I had the privilege of moving a motion which committed
Thanet Council to the support of equal marriage. Thanks to David Cameron’s championing
of this change, equal marriage is now lawful. For the government he leads to
allow Team GB to compete in a country which has legalised the persecution of
its LGBT citizens seems to me to be incompatible with our strong commitment as
a nation to inclusivity and tolerance.”
Notes
(1)
Other
supporters of the boycott include celebrity Stephen Fry, Human Rights Activist
Peter Tatchell, and Green Party MP Caroline Lucas
Text of
letter to David Cameron MP, the Prime Minster
Dear Prime
Minster
We are writing
to you to express our deep concern about the Russian government’s recent
introduction of draconian legislation which allows for the persecution of its
LGBT citizens.
As the leader
of a country which recently legalised equal marriage, and as one of the main
supporters of the campaign for its introduction, we ask you to use your
influence to persuade the Russian government to think again about this
reactionary legislation.
We believe one
of the most effective ways to do this is for our country to join the growing
international campaign to boycott the 2014 Winter Games being held at Sochi in
Russia.
Team GB’s participation would lend credibility to a European
country which has introduced an extremely dangerous piece of legislation,
threatening the human rights of millions of its citizens. Our long national
tradition of respect, tolerance and inclusivity, as evidenced by our
legalisation on equal marriage, is incompatible with participation in the Sochi
Games.
If our
country were to take a strong moral stand and join the boycott, the Russian government
would quickly realise that it is on the wrong side of history.
Yours
sincerely
Councillor
Martin Whybrow, The Green Party, The Members’ Room, Sessions House,County Hall, Maidstone Kent ME14 1XQ
Councillor Ian Driver, The Green Party, c/o Thanet District Council, PO Box 9, Cecil Street, Margate, Kent, CT9 1XZ
Is it true that Conservative Councillor Ken Gregory is moving to Russia to advise Putin on human rights!
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