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UKIP councillor blames flooding on gay marriage

Oxford students have reacted angrily to recent comments by a UKIP councillor in Henley, Oxfordshire. David Silvester asserted in a letter to his local newspaper that the floods recently hitting parts of Britain came as a result of the legalisation of gay marriage.

Silvester was defended by UKIP after writing the letter and reiterated his views on national radio, where he referred to being gay as a “spiritual disease”. He was subsequently suspended for not complying with party bosses’ requests to limit media appearances.

Dan Templeton, OUSU’s LGTBQ representative, said, “To hear such comments being made by what is now considered a ‘mainstream’ party is disheartening at best. This is made worse by the fact that David Silvester was only suspended from the party when breaching a request not to give interviews and in light of the resignation of Nikki Sinclaire”, a former UKIP MEP.

He added, “Though most have ridiculed Silvester’s outdated comments, they remain damaging to anyone struggling with their sexual/gender identity or seeking acceptance from society. LGBTQ-phobic views do nothing but harm the young and impressionable”.

A student at Exeter College told Cherwell, “I suppose this would be funny if UKIP weren’t posing as a serious alternative to mainstream parties. I hope people consider what the implications of a party that puts people like this into positions of power gaining any sort of influence would be.”

One Geography student used his meteorological know-how to dispute the logic of the claims, insisting that there were few documented connections between equality legislation and the weather. “Unless it featured in one of the lectures I slept through, I’ve never come across any evidence suggesting that allowing a large group in society to be happy would cause floods and chaos.”

Though Silvester referenced the Bible in his claims, one member of Oxford’s Inter-Collegiate Christian Union pointed to comments made by Colin Coward from the group Changing Attitude, a Christian network advocating the inclusion of LGBTQ people. “I don’t know where David worships, but clearly it’s in a sect, a church which is not mainstream in its Christian practice and teaching,” Coward said.

The councillor’s reasoning has hit social media and the national headlines this week. Twitter accounts mocking Mr. Silvester’s claims have proven popular, with the @UKIPWeather account gaining 80,000 followers in less than two days. A spoof shipping forecast recorded by actor Nicholas Pegg, in which he jokes that homosexual activities could have an influence on the climate, has also gone viral.

A member of Oxford University Labour Club wondered whether, “UKIP’s attacks on the left, women, homosexuals, immigrants and more were an attempt to leave no stone unturned in their quest to insult, belittle, and bully anyone who didn’t share their narrow, prehistoric, and alarming world view.”
In line with most of those spoken to by Cherwell, Jane Cahill said, “When the first same sex marriages happen in March, I will enjoy watching him flee to high ground.”

Magdalen LGBTQ reps James Stoke and Elsa Field told Cherwell, “We are heartened to see that UKIP has suspended Councillor David Silvester, as this shows clearly that, even on the fringes of mainstream politics, bigoted and scientifically ridiculous opinions are not supported.”

Cherwell’s requested a comment from Mr Silvester, but he declined.

In a statement, UKIP Oxford said, “The views expressed by the ex-Conservative town councillor are certainly not shared by UKIP. Cllr Silvester has, rightly been suspended from the party.

“We are a diverse and inclusive party with a thriving LGBTQ section. UKIP deal swiftly and decisively with inappropriate candidates or members – which, as the Lord Rennard scandal shows, cannot be said of all parties.”

On the other hand, Ed Nickell. a third year at Exeter, had an alternative explanation for Silvester’s behaviour. He commented, “Apparently there was a double rainbow over Oxford last week, maybe there is something to this.”

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