The party was organised by LGBT+ Conservatives (John Walton/PA)
(Picture: PA Archive)People at a party organised by LGBT+ Conservatives during the Tory conference have claimed they were victims of homophobic abuse.
Attendees of the event celebrating diversity at Birmingham’s Reflex nightclub on Tuesday told ITV that the occasion, open to all conference pass holders, was overshadowed by slurs.
One attendee was reportedly escorted out of the venue after aiming verbal abuse towards a gay man while another was thrown out for aiming a derogatory term at two women.
A recipient of abuse told reporters: "We kicked someone out who was blind drunk and called me a dirty l***** and that I needed to watch my back.
“I don’t feel like I morally fit in anymore.”
Elena Bunbury, the chairman of the LGBT+ Conservatives faction, tweeted: “The abuse my team at @LGBTCons have had tonight is disgusting.
“We’ve run a free event and it’s spoiled by the few that feel the need to to be abusive, not on at all. Thank you to those who were respectful, it means a lot.”
The abuse my team at @LGBTCons have had tonight is disgusting. We’ve run a free event and it’s spoilt by the few that feel the need to to be abusive, not on at all. Thank you to those who were respectful, it means a lot 🤍
— Elena Bunbury (@elena_bunbury) October 5, 2022
ITV News said it had been informed that the individuals using the offensive language were both Conservative party members, but has been unable to verify this claim.
A Conservative spokesperson said: “We have had discussions with LGBT+ Conservatives regarding this incident, which took place outside of the conference secure zone, and offered them our support.
"If those involved are identified as members of the Party, we will launch swift investigations.
"Any form of discrimination or abuse is wrong and complaints can be made in confidence under our Code of Conduct”.
Anneliese Dodds, shadow secretary of state for women and equalities said: “These are deeply troubling reports.
“The Conservative Party must take these allegations seriously and investigate them urgently.
A Liberal Democrat statement added: “This is really worrying. No-one should be subjected to this kind of vile homophobic abuse.”
