What were the Finchley Conservatives thinking when they invited the DUP to tea?

Mike Freer + Husband

There are many things I disagree with the Finchley and Golders Green MP, Mike Freer about, however I support to the hilt his right to marry the partner of his choice. Mr Freer is entitled to meet someone, fall in love and marry them, because he lives in Finchley. He has taken advantage of this right and I for one hope Mike and his husband have a long happy life together.

However if he lived in Northern Ireland, this right would be denied. There is only one reason for this. The Democratic Unionist Party run the show and they believe that people involved in same sex relationships are second class citizens and should be denied the right to have their marriage legally recognised.

This documentary from the BBC gives some idea of the challenges that people face. I find the situation abhorrent.

Same-sex marriage

Why am I mentioning this? I was shocked this morning to see a tweet from the leader of the DUP amongst a sea of smiling faces of Finchley Conservatives in the Constituency offices of Mr Freer yesterday.

Delighted to be in Finchley to address local Conservative members. Wonderful welcome.

👉 No one person, party or region has ownership of the Union. 🇬🇧 That is what makes it so special and so precious.

👉 It must be something that belongs to us all. #proudofNI pic.twitter.com/Q3ftQzv6Hr

— Arlene Foster (@DUPleader) June 25, 2019

If you look at the responses there are some sickeningly fawning tweets in reply from various members of the Finchley Tory Party. Of course it is a free country, everyone is entitled to hold views which the rest of us find abhorrent. I am not one for stopping 'controversial' people speaking at such engagements. Not because I support them, but because it allows us to see the true colours of those that invite them. Had Arlene Foster not been invited, I would have no idea that the Finchley Conservatives were 'delighted' to sup with someone who actively blocks the rights of Gay people to marry and of women to determine what happens within their own bodies. They are happy to welcome the leader of a party who's sole reason for existence is to deepen and widen the secretarian divide in Norther Ireland, which is hugely insulting to everyone of Roman Catholic origin in the constituency.

The DUP leader with Finchley Tories last night

I would be interested to hear Mike Freer's views on the visit. It is convention that an MP is informed of such visits. Does he welcome the DUP Leaders visit? Does he agree with her policy for same sex marriage in Northern Ireland? Does he agree with the DUP's antipathy towards Roman Catholics? Does he agree with their policy towards womens rights. Is he happy to have him standing in his offices, under a picture of Lady Thatcher? These pictures send a strong statement to everyone in Finchley and Golders Green about the local Conservatives and where their sympathies lie. Whilst I am not shocked about some of them, the fact that Mike Freer, of all people, allowed such a person to be welcomed into his offices and extends such a warm welcome tells you all you need to know.