Quest: No exceptions should be made on religious grounds

Ruth Kelly has contradicted her equality pledge if reports that she blocked gay rights legislation following pressure from religious groups are true, a lesbian and gay Catholic group has argued.

Ms Kelly has faced calls to stand down, with the Liberal Democrats and gay rights charities saying that her devout Catholic beliefs make her an unsuitable equality champion.

A Quest spokesman told politics.co.uk: "If it is true that Ruth Kelly has been attempting to block gay rights legislation in the areas of faith schools and Catholic adoption services it puts her directly in conflict with numerous pledges made by her own party on civil rights and equality for lesbian and gay people.

"The notion that you are 'equal to an extent, but not in the following areas' makes no sense at all and sends signals that such individuals are inferior and deemed unworthy. No exceptions should be made on religious grounds."