Duncan's revelation exposes troubled divisions in party

Party leader and chairman applaud MP's announcement of his homosexuality but traditional supporters react with unease

Deep divisions in the Tory Party's attitudes to homosexuality were exposed yesterday after a leading rank and file activist criticised Alan Duncan for announcing that he is gay.

Mr Duncan, a shadow Foreign Office minister, was praised by Iain Duncan Smith for his honesty and reassured that his announcement would not affect his future in the party.

Theresa May, the party chairman, hailed Mr Duncan's decision to go public about his sexuality as evidence that the Conservatives were an "open, decent and tolerant" party.

But there were clear signs of unease among more traditionalist elements in the Tory ranks, with Ann Widdecombe, the former shadow home secretary, calling for MPs to spend more time attacking Labour.

Jean Searle, the former president of the party's National Convention, told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme: "I personally feel, as I think many members of the party feel, why does one have to broadcast all about your personal life? It is your public life, what you do as MP that matters. That's what matters to me and I'm sure to many of our members, particularly our elderly ones." Mrs Searle said it was "a possibility" that her efforts in the north could be hindered by Mr Duncan's announcement.

Ms Widdecombe did not comment directly on Mr Duncan. But she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Unless we as a party wake up to the fact that the Government is in severe difficulty, that we should have it on the ropes, and that that is where our attention should lie, instead of forever going on about ideological purity within our own party, then we will not make the gains that we could."

In his letter, Mr Duncan Smith promised his continued personal support. "I understand how difficult it must have been for you to have made such an open statement about your private life," he wrote.

"What you have done is honest and will not affect you in any way politically in the future. Your talents as a politician have put you on the front bench and I know our colleagues will join me in saying that you are a valued and valuable member of the Parliamentary party and the front bench."

Although Central Office denied it, the Tory leader's letter led many to suspect that Mr Duncan's announcement was a carefully planned operation designed to project a more modern face for the party.

It is understood that Mr Duncan made his decision three weeks ago and planted the story in yesterday's Times. Mrs May confirmed that Mr Duncan had warned Central Office that he would go public. "Obviously if somebody is going to make a statement of this sort then they will want to make sure that people know it is going to happen," she said.

She said that Mr Duncan's revelation was another signal, after her appointment last week as the first woman Tory chairman, that the Conservatives were a tolerant party in tune with the times.

Ed Vasey, of the Tory modernising think-tank, C-Change, said Mr Duncan's announcement was part of a conscious campaign by the party to project a more modern face.

"I don't think Alan made that statement spontaneously, although it is something he has wanted to say for quite a while. I think the timing is important," he said.

"It is clearly a signal to Britain at large that the Conservative Party has a gay MP and a gay MP in a quite a senior position in the party.

"It's a very important signal to people who feel like they would want to become Conservative candidates that there is no barrier to them joining us."

The businessman and former Tory Ivan Massow welcomed Mr Duncan's announcement, saying he was "very pleased". Speaking from Ibiza, Mr Massow – who accused Conservatives of homophobia and intolerance two years ago before walking out to join Labour – said: "To be honest, anyone who knows Alan Duncan knows that he is gay, but I was still surprised to see ... he had chosen to do this.

"It will be very good for the Conservative Party. It will force them to face up to issues that they have been refusing to face.

"And if they do so, they could broaden support for the party. More gay people, and more people in general, would be likely to be attracted to a party which displayed more inclusiveness."

Mr Massow said it would be a "big test" to see whether Mr Duncan tried to reform the controversial Section 28.

"There is more likely to be a shift under Iain Duncan Smith than there ever was under William Hague," he said.

Out and about the reaction

* Ken Bool, the chairman of the Rutland and Melton Conservative Association, said: "Alan's honesty is not an act of confession; it is a refreshing act by a man well known for his honesty. He has always had the full support of the party and he still does."

* Pam Posnett, the deputy chairman, said Mr Duncan was "a very good constituency MP". She said: "Our belief is that it will not affect his standing in the local area and his supporters will still give him the backing they always have."

* Peter Reid, 74, said: "If he is gay then that is his choice but I suspect it may cost him a few votes. I'm not sure I would vote for him."

* Rose Flint, 63, a Melton resident for 40 years, said: "I think all this is in very bad taste. He is doing his dirty laundry in public. He seems to be assuming some degree of self-importance by making an issue of his sexuality. I don't know if I would vote for him in future."

* Adrienne Woolton, 17, said: "If he succeeds in representing our town well then he will have my vote."

* Chris Pullen, 19, said: "An MP is elected to talk on our behalf and not to speak for themselves so why an MP's sexuality should matter I don't know."

* Dennis Warne, 76, was clear that he would not be put off voting for Mr Duncan. He said: "I don't approve of that sort of thing and I don't think it is right to go public on such matters, but I don't judge politicians on whether or not they fancy girls."

Andy Merrington