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Gay News: A Labour Party activist in Nottingham has claimed that a Tory leader refused to shake hands with him because he is gay.
By: Nigel Robinson
Ian Campbell is the UK's youngest mayor
Ian Campbell is the UK's youngest mayor
Gay mayor "snubbed" by Tory council leader
Retford mayor, Ian Campbell, who, at 23, is the country’s youngest mayor, was chosen as joint Young Person of the Year. He was to be presented with a youth citizenship award from council leader Kay Cutts.
However Mrs Cutts did not hand over the award to Mr Campbell, nor would she allow herself to be photographed with him.
Mr Campbell told BBC Nottingham that Mrs Cutts had asked him about his nomination.
When he told her it was for gay rights and anti-homophobia in schools, Mr Campbell said “she seemed to withdraw her hand and was in a state of shock.
“She proceeded not to speak to me but speak to other people on my table.”
The Conservative Party has denied that Mrs Cutts ignored Mr Campbell because he is gay, and said that she had refused to be photographed with him because he is a Labour Party activist.
A spokesman said: “The Conservative Party takes allegations of homophobia extremely seriously.
“We are satisfied that her conduct at the youth awards ceremony in question was exemplary and any suggestion to the contrary is completely inaccurate.
“None of her actions was in any way homophobic.”
