Veteran Labour MP Diane Abbott has torn into homophobic attacks on Wes Streeting since he was made Defence Secretary.
Ilford North MP Mr Streeting has told how he has been targeted with an “unbelievable volume” of homophobia online since being appointed to the defence role by Andy Burnham in July.
“I have experienced more online homophobia in the last three weeks than I have in my entire life,” he told LBC’s All Talk podcast hosted by Iain Dale.
“Unbelievable volume – because people cannot cope with the idea that a gay person might lead the armed forces of the United Kingdom.”
He added: “I’m proud of the fact that in my lifetime we’ve gone from gay people not being allowed to serve in the military to a gay Defence Secretary.
“And in my first week, someone in the MoD said to me, ‘you know, as a gay man, I’m really proud that we have our first gay Defence Secretary, and it means a lot to many of us who remember the bad old days’. So I was quite touched by that.”
Ms Abbott, MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington since 1983, posted on X: “I disagree with Wes Streeting on political fundamentals - a lot.
“But attacking him for his sexuality is ignorant, prejudiced and unacceptable.”
Ms Abbott, the first black woman elected to the Commons and now the Mother of the House as the female MP with the longest continuous service, is on the Labour Left, while Mr Streeting is on the Right of the party.
London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan branded the abuse unleashed at Mr Streeting as “disgraceful”.
He added: “His appointment is something to celebrate – an important sign of how far we’ve come - and why we must never take that progress for granted.”
Between 1967 and 2000, gay people were banned from the army, navy, and air force.
Members of the armed forces suspected of being gay were subjected to brutal interrogation and bullying, and forced out of service, often with long-term impacts on their life and careers.
LGBT+ ex-servicemen and women who suffered historical mistreatment have until December 12 to apply for a financial redress scheme, set up nearly two years ago, and have been urged to come forward.
Mr Streeting, who served as Health Secretary under Sir Keir Starmer before resigning in May, contrasted the online abuse he has received with the broader response to his appointment.
“Being the first openly gay Defence Secretary has been almost entirely unremarked upon in the media,” he explained.
“And I think, ‘Great, here we are in the third decade of the 21st century and it doesn’t matter, brilliant.’
“But of course, online it matters to a lot of people.
“And I am proud of the fact that in my lifetime we’ve gone from gay people not being able to serve in the military to a gay Defence Secretary.”
Sir Keir’s government established the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme, through which members of the armed forces who were dismissed or discharged because of the previous ban on gay people in the military can apply for payments of up to £70,000.
MPs have urged the Government to speed up the financial payouts.
