Section 28 amendment may split Tories

Iain Duncan Smith faced a fresh test of his leadership yesterday over Section 28, which bans the promotion of homosexuality in schools.

Kali Mountford, a backbench Labour MP, announced that she would table an amendment to remove the legislation, which has divided the Shadow Cabinet.

Any Commons debate on the issue threatens to reopen the Tory split on social issues, which was made clear when the leadership opposed government plans for gay adoption last month. John Bercow resigned over the stance as shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

Eric Pickles, the shadow Local Government minister, refused to be drawn on the party's response to the Section 28 amendment, saying whips would rule on the issue. But Mr Bercow said: "I for one will ... support it because I believe Section 28 is gratuitously offensive, causes justified resentment and should, in the interests of fairness and decency, be urgently repealed."

The Government attempted to repeal Section 28 of the Local Government Act in the last parliament but was blocked by Tory peers.