Editing Ben Summerskill

{{Short description | British LGBT advocate and journalist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Use British English |date=March 2014 }}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix          = 
| name                      = Ben Summerskill
| honorific_suffix          = [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire|OBE]]
| image                     = Ben Summerskill Stonewall awards Nov 2011.jpg
| image_size                = 
| alt                       = 
| caption                   = Giving a speech at the [[Stonewall Awards]], November 2011
| birth_date                = {{Birth-date and age|6 October 1961}}<ref>[http://web.researcha.com/iccquery/detail/?did=5378961&c=uk]{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
| birth_place               = [[Kent]], [[England]]
| death_date                =
| death_place               =
| nationality               = [[British nationality law|British]]
| education                 = {{plainlist}}
* Cobden Road Infants School
* Amherst County Primary School
* [[Sevenoaks School]]
{{Endplainlist}}
| alma_mater                = [[Merton College, Oxford]]
| occupation                = {{Plainlist}}
* [[Businessperson|Businessman]]
* [[Campaigner|Equality campaigner]]
* [[Journalist]]
{{Endplainlist}}
| years_active              = 1987–present
| title                     = Chief executive of [[Stonewall (charity)|Stonewall]] (2003–2014)
| predecessor               = [[Angela Mason]] (1992–2002)
| successor                 = [[Ruth Hunt]] (2014–2019)
| website                   = 
}}
'''Ben Jeffrey Peter Summerskill''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|OBE}} (born 6 October 1961)<ref>{{cite news |url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/public_sector/article410296.ece |title=Industry : Public Sector Articles |access-date=2013-11-01 |location=London |newspaper=[[The Times]]}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> is chair of [[The Silver Line]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fundraising.co.uk/2018/05/01/whos-moving-appointments-round/ |title=Who's moving where? Appointments round-up |date=1 May 2018 |website=Fundraising UK |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119091944/https://fundraising.co.uk/2018/05/01/whos-moving-appointments-round/ |archive-date=19 November 2018 |access-date=15 May 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> and director of the Criminal Justice Alliance, a consortium of 135 charities working across the GB criminal justice pathway.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/former-stonewall-chief-executive-ben-summerskill-head-criminal-justice-alliance/management/article/1334849 |title=Former Stonewall chief executive Ben Summerskill to head the Criminal Justice Alliance |publisher=Third Sector |date=2015-03-02 |access-date=2016-09-10 |archive-date=2 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402110251/https://www.thirdsector.co.uk/former-stonewall-chief-executive-ben-summerskill-head-criminal-justice-alliance/management/article/1334849 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.criminaljusticealliance.org.uk |title=committed to improving the CJS |publisher=Criminal Justice Alliance |access-date=2016-09-10 |archive-date=12 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312010007/http://criminaljusticealliance.org.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He was the chief executive of the [[United Kingdom|UK]]-based lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality organisation [[Stonewall (charity)|Stonewall]], the largest gay equality body in Europe, from 2003 to 2014. He has also worked as a [[businessperson|businessman]] and [[journalist]]. Summerskill is an occasional contributor to ''[[The Guardian]]'', ''[[The Independent|The Independent on Sunday]]'', ''[[The Observer]]'', ''The Times'', ''Time Out'' and other publications. In 2015 he won a Lifetime Achievement Award at the [[British LGBT Awards]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britishlgbtawards.co.uk/ |title=Home |publisher=British LGBT Awards |date=2016-08-02 |access-date=2016-09-10 |archive-date=22 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160922022735/http://www.britishlgbtawards.co.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2017, he was appointed by the UK government to the council (Board) of ACAS, the Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-announces-appointment-of-2-acas-council-members |title=Government announces appointment of 2 Acas Council members |date=30 June 2017 |website=[[Acas]] |publisher=gov.uk |quote=Ben Summerskill joins the Council as an independent member and Christina McAnea as an employee representative  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402074429/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-announces-appointment-of-2-acas-council-members |archive-date=2 April 2019}}</ref> He was first appointed a trustee of the Silver Line in 2017.<ref>[https://www.thesilverline.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/THE-SILVER-LINE-BOLSTERS-ITS-BOARD-OF-TRUSTEES-WITH-FIVE-NEW-APPOINTMENTS-F.pdf THE SILVER LINE BOLSTERS ITS BOARD OF TRUSTEES WITH FIVE NEW APPOINTMENTS] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426151148/https://www.thesilverline.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/THE-SILVER-LINE-BOLSTERS-ITS-BOARD-OF-TRUSTEES-WITH-FIVE-NEW-APPOINTMENTS-F.pdf |date=26 April 2017 }}. 5 April 2017, The Silver Line. Archived from the original on 20 April 2019</ref>

==Early life and education==
Ben Summerskill's paternal grandmother (Baroness) [[Edith Summerskill, Baroness Summerskill|Edith Summerskill]] and his aunt (Dr) [[Shirley Summerskill]] were both [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] [[Member of Parliament|Members of Parliament]] and government ministers. Dr Edith Summerskill, a former Chairman of the Labour Party, was an early advocate of Britain's free [[National Health Service]] and a vocal campaigner for women's equality. Shirley Summerskill helped introduce the UK's [[Sex Discrimination Act 1975|Sex Discrimination Act]], as a Home Office minister. His maternal grandfather [[Sydney Elliott]] was a newspaper editor of various papers, including the London ''[[Evening Standard]]''. In 1944, Elliott became Editorial Advisor at the ''[[Daily Mirror]]'', where he masterminded its campaign to support the Labour Party at the [[1945 United Kingdom general election|1945 general election]].

Ben Summerskill has a twin sister, Clare, who is a performer.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.claresummerskill.co.uk |title=Clare Summerskill's website |publisher=Claresummerskill.co.uk |access-date=2013-12-04 |archive-date=8 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008010132/http://www.claresummerskill.co.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He was educated at Cobden Road Infants School, Amherst County Primary School, [[Sevenoaks School]], where he held a scholarship, and [[Merton College, Oxford]], where he was an [[Exhibitioner]] (holder of a junior scholarship)<ref>{{cite web |last=West |first=Ed |url=http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/features/2013/07/08/ben-summerskill-we-dont-think-religion-is-evil-or-wicked/ |title=Ben Summerskill: 'We don't think religion is evil or wicked' – |website=Catholicherald.co.uk |date=2013-07-08 |access-date=2016-09-10 |archive-date=15 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315052307/http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/features/2013/07/08/ben-summerskill-we-dont-think-religion-is-evil-or-wicked/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> but which he left after two years without taking a degree. He later wrote in ''[[The Guardian]]'': "I still recall being struck dumb on being shown, as an undergraduate, a note from an Oxford tutor to a successful candidate's father: 'Many thanks for lunch, and the trip in the Rolls.'"<ref>{{cite news |author=Ben Summerskill |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2005/apr/26/publicschools.schools |title=Why would you want to go to public school? |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=26 April 2005 |access-date=27 May 2010 |location=London |archive-date=2 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402080132/https://www.theguardian.com/education/2005/apr/26/publicschools.schools |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Professional life==
His first career was in the restaurant trade. He was operations director from 1987 to 1990 with Kennedy Brookes, by then a publicly quoted hospitality company, responsible for 300 staff and an £18m turnover at the age of 26.{{citation needed|date=May 2014}} Becoming a journalist in 1990, he rose to the position of assistant editor of ''[[The Observer]]'' newspaper which he joined in 2000 after having worked with [[Peter Hitchens]] and [[Peter Oborne]]<ref>{{cite news |author=Ben Summerskill |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/apr/19/broadcasting.g2 |title=Time to rain on Paxo's parade? |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=19 April 2005 |access-date=3 February 2009 |location=London |archive-date=2 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402082926/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/apr/19/broadcasting.g2 |url-status=live }}</ref> as media editor for ''[[Daily Express]]'' editor [[Rosie Boycott]], and the London ''[[London Evening Standard|Evening Standard]]'' under editor and mentor [[Max Hastings]] and other magazines.

==Stonewall==
As chief executive of Stonewall, he succeeded Director [[Angela Mason]] in early 2003, expanding its work from parliamentary lobbying into other fields including workplace equality and campaigning against homophobia in schools. He led successful campaigns for the repeal of [[Section 28]] of the [[Local Government Act 1988]],<ref name="theguardian1">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/27/in-praise-of-ben-summerskill |title=In praise of … Ben Summerskill &#124; Editorial &#124; Opinion |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=2016-09-10 |archive-date=20 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820141324/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/27/in-praise-of-ben-summerskill |url-status=live }}</ref> the introduction of Civil Partnership for lesbian and gay people in the UK and the introduction in 2007 of protections against discrimination in the provision of "goods and services", covering areas from healthcare and housing to hotels and holidays.<ref>{{cite news |last=Womack |first=Sarah |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1540603/The-gay-lobby.html |title=The gay lobby |newspaper=Telegraph |date=2007-01-26 |access-date=2016-09-10 |archive-date=7 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107164946/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1540603/The-gay-lobby.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He also led a successful parliamentary campaign in 2007–08 for introduction of a criminal offence of incitement to homophobic hatred and a campaign in 2009–10 to enable gay people to celebrate civil partnerships in religious premises. He also restored Stonewall to financial good health after a number of very precarious years. (Its turnover was £1.4m in 2003, during which it ran a deficit of £117,000, and £5.3m by 2014, with reserves having risen from £11,000 in 2003 to £3.2m and staff numbers rising from 21 to 75.)<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130923065943/http://stonewall.org.uk/documents/stonewall_financial_overview_0312.pdf Stonewall Financial Overview], March 2012. Archived from the original on 23 Sep 2013</ref><ref>[http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends55/0001101255_AC_20140930_E_C.pdf Stonewall Equality Limited: Trustees' annual report and financial statements For the year ended 30 September 2014] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107165554/http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends55/0001101255_AC_20140930_E_C.pdf |date=7 November 2017 }}. [[Charity Commission for England and Wales|Charity Commission]]. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017</ref>

Under his direction, Stonewall's [[Diversity Champions]] programme, promoting good practice among major UK employers, grew from 35 to more than 600 members, employing 5.5 million people between them, ranging from [[IBM]] and [[Tesco]] to all of Britain's armed services and [[MI5]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stonewall.org.uk/at_work/diversity_champions_programme/diversity_champion_members/default.asp |title=Members of Stonewall's Diversity Champions programme |website=Stonewall.org.uk |date=10 August 2015 |access-date=2016-09-10 |archive-date=2 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140702050035/http://stonewall.org.uk/at_work/diversity_champions_programme/diversity_champion_members/default.asp |url-status=live }}</ref> Stonewall's Education for All programme, launched in 2005 to help tackle homophobic bullying in Britain's schools and universities, was supported by 70 major teaching and children's organisations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ghll.org.uk/partnership-projects/stonewall-education-champions-programme/ |title=Stonewall Education Champions Programme : Gloucestershire Healthy Living and Learning |website=Ghll.org.uk |date=2012-07-05 |access-date=2016-09-10 |archive-date=23 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160723174742/http://www.ghll.org.uk/partnership-projects/stonewall-education-champions-programme/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2006, Summerskill was appointed a Commissioner on the Britain's new [[Equality and Human Rights Commission]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://equalityhumanrights.com/en/aboutus/whoweare/pages/commissioners.aspx |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20081211181514/equalityhumanrights.com/en/aboutus/whoweare/pages/commissioners.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=2008-12-11 |title=[ARCHIVED CONTENT&#93; UK Government Web Archive – The National Archives |website=Webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk |access-date=2016-09-10}}</ref> He had for three years been a member of a Steering Group advising the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on establishing the commission, which has statutory powers for the first time to promote equality for lesbian and gay people. He was appointed an [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] (OBE) in the 2009 New Year Honours.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=58929 |date=31 December 2008 |page=12 |supp=y }}</ref> He was appointed to the committee of the [[Queen's Award for Voluntary Service]] in 2009.<ref>[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100104232606/http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/documents/digitalasset/dg_181029.pdf Main Award Committee], April 2009.  Queen's Award for Voluntary Service. Archived from the original on 4 January 2010.</ref> In July 2009 Summerskill resigned as an EHRC commissioner citing differences over leadership with its chair [[Trevor Phillips]].<ref>{{cite news |author=Sam Jones and James Sturcke |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2009/jul/24/ben-summerskill-quits-ehrc |title=New resignation hits Equality and Human Rights Commission |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=24 July 2009 |access-date=1 November 2013 |location=London |archive-date=5 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105011329/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2009/jul/24/ben-summerskill-quits-ehrc |url-status=live }}</ref> Five other commissioners resigned at the same time.

In 2010 he was a finalist as Ernst & Young Social Entrepreneur of the Year and in 2011 he was shortlisted as Britain's Most Admired Charity Chief Executive in the Third Sector Awards.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://thirdsector.co.uk/news/Article/1085496/Six-sector-leaders-contention-Admired-Chief-Executive/ |title=Six sector leaders in contention to be Most Admired Chief Executive |publisher=Thirdsector.co.uk |date=18 August 2011 |access-date=1 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730032934/http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/news/Article/1085496/Six-sector-leaders-contention-Admired-Chief-Executive/ |archive-date=30 July 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref>

In November 2011 Anthony Ryan, 42, received an eight-month prison sentence at Liverpool Crown Court after threatening to "put a bullet in the head" of Summerskill.<ref>{{cite news |author=James Meikle |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/sep/08/threatened-gay-rights-campaigner-sentence |title=Man who threatened to kill gay rights campaigner gets suspended sentence &#124; World news |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=2016-09-10 |archive-date=20 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820145317/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/sep/08/threatened-gay-rights-campaigner-sentence |url-status=live }}</ref> Ryan, whose sentence was suspended for 18 months, suggested that Summerskill start making "funeral arrangements".

In 2013 he was named by the ''Evening Standard'' as one of London's 1000 most influential people.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/the-power-1000-londons-most-influential-people-2013-crusaders-philanthropists-leaders-8826767.html |title=The Power 1000 - London's most influential people 2013: Crusaders, Philanthropists & leaders |date=19 September 2013 |newspaper=[[Evening Standard]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820164551/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/the-power-1000-londons-most-influential-people-2013-crusaders-philanthropists-leaders-8826767.html |archive-date=20 August 2017 |access-date=4 April 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Summerskill stood down as chief executive of Stonewall in January 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stonewall.org.uk/media/current_releases/9413.asp |publisher=Stonewall |date=23 January 2014 |title=Ben Summerskill to step down as Chief Executive |access-date=23 January 2014 |archive-date=30 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140130131239/http://www.stonewall.org.uk/media/current_releases/9413.asp |url-status=live }}</ref> His resignation was marked by a ''Guardian'' editorial.<ref name="theguardian1" />

During his time at Stonewall, Summerskill attracted controversy over the organisation's decision not to campaign on transgender issues. The 2008 [[Stonewall Awards]] faced protests<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2008/11/07/celebs-split-over-trans-protests-at-stonewall-awards/|title=Celebs split over trans protest at Stonewall Awards|work=PinkNews|access-date=2017-10-12|language=en-US|archive-date=22 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922024249/http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2008/11/07/celebs-split-over-trans-protests-at-stonewall-awards/|url-status=live}}</ref> from transgender rights activists, but Summerskill maintained that the organisation should exclusively campaign for "gay men, lesbians and bisexuals". The policy of excluding transgender issues was reviewed within months of his 2014 departure<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2014/09/01/video-stonewall-holds-historic-first-meeting-with-trans-activists/|title=Video: Stonewall holds historic first meeting with trans activists|work=PinkNews|access-date=2017-10-12|language=en-US|archive-date=12 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012095742/http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2014/09/01/video-stonewall-holds-historic-first-meeting-with-trans-activists/|url-status=live}}</ref> and eventually reversed.

==Politics==
Summerskill was a [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] councillor for the Westbourne ward of [[Westminster City Council]] from 1994 to 1998.

During his time at Stonewall, Summerskill frequently attracted controversy over the organisation's decision not to support equal marriage.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.petertatchell.net/lgbt_rights/partnerships/stonewall-undermines-campaign-for-gay-marriage.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110104055323/http://petertatchell.net/lgbt_rights/partnerships/stonewall-undermines-campaign-for-gay-marriage.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2011-01-04|title=Peter Tatchell: Stonewall undermines campaign for gay marriage|website=www.petertatchell.net|access-date=2017-10-12}}</ref> In a departure from many others in the LGBT rights movement, Summerskill also voiced his opposition to same-sex marriage while serving as Stonewall's chief executive. Speaking at the 2010 Liberal Democrat conference, Summerskill suggested "lots" of gay people didn't want same-sex marriage to be legal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/peter-g-tatchell/stonewall-equal-marriage_b_4979549.html|title=Up Against the Stonewall on Equal Marriage|website=HuffPost UK|date=17 March 2014|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-10-12|archive-date=12 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012150030/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/peter-g-tatchell/stonewall-equal-marriage_b_4979549.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The event was attended by [[Lynne Featherstone]], the minister for equality; [[Evan Harris]], president of Liberal Democrat LGBT group [[LGBT+ Liberal Democrats|DELGA]]; and Liberal Democrat MP [[Steve Gilbert]], all of whom questioned Summerskill's comments. A poll commissioned by LGBT outlet ''PinkNews'' found 98% in support of marriage equality.<ref name="What does Stonewall want if it isn’t gay marriage?">{{cite news|url=http://www.libdemvoice.org/stonewall-gay-marriage-21378.html|title=What does Stonewall want if it isn't gay marriage?|last=Reeves|first=Andrew|date=28 September 2010|newspaper=LibDemVoice.org|access-date=11 January 2013|archive-date=8 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130608205523/http://www.libdemvoice.org/stonewall-gay-marriage-21378.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Following a backlash that saw a number of calls for Summerskill's resignation, Stonewall confirmed it would support equal marriage in October 2010.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/10/27/stonewall-says-it-will-campaign-for-gay-marriage/|title=Stonewall says it will campaign for gay marriage|work=PinkNews|access-date=2017-10-12|language=en-US|archive-date=22 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170522050844/http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/10/27/stonewall-says-it-will-campaign-for-gay-marriage/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Speaking to ''[[The Observer]]'' in March 2014, he controversially criticised the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] as having only supported [[same-sex marriage|equal marriage]] in order to draw "clear blue water" between their coalition partners, the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]], despite Stonewall having not been in favour of equal marriage when the issue was introduced into the Coalition-led Parliament.<ref name="Obs 2014-03-16">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/mar/16/stonewall-attacks-lib-dems-on-gay-marriage |title=Lib Dems' support for gay marriage 'cynical', says former Stonewall chief |author=Tracy McVeigh |work=[[The Observer]] |date=16 March 2014 |access-date=16 March 2014 |archive-date=16 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316061644/http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/mar/16/stonewall-attacks-lib-dems-on-gay-marriage |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Peter Tatchell]] was particularly critical: "Stonewall does great work but the gay campaign for marriage equality faced an uphill struggle, which was made worse by Stonewall constantly undermining our efforts. Some of the arguments Ben and Stonewall put forward at the time [2010] were quoted by homophobes to justify their opposition to same-sex marriage and this was hugely damaging. I am not a supporter of the Liberal Democrats, but on the issue of same-sex marriage the party took an early position, while Stonewall did all it could to sabotage that position."<ref name="Obs 2014-03-16"/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{s-start}}
{{S-bus|Chief Executive}}
{{s-bef | before = [[Angela Mason]]}}
{{s-ttl |title = Chief Executive of ''[[Stonewall (charity)|Stonewall]]'' | years = 2003–2014}}
{{s-aft | after = [[Ruth Hunt]] (acting)}}
{{S-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Summerskill, Ben}}
[[Category:1961 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Alumni of Merton College, Oxford]]
[[Category:Councillors in the City of Westminster]]
[[Category:English businesspeople]]
[[Category:English male journalists]]
[[Category:Labour Party (UK) councillors]]
[[Category:English gay writers]]
[[Category:English LGBTQ journalists]]
[[Category:English LGBTQ businesspeople]]
[[Category:Gay journalists]]
[[Category:Gay businessmen]]
[[Category:English gay politicians]]
[[Category:English LGBTQ rights activists]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:People educated at Sevenoaks School]]
[[Category:People from Kent]]
[[Category:21st-century English LGBTQ people]]