Wes Streeting describes 'unbelievable volume' of homophobic abuse since becoming defence secretary

Wes Streeting has said he received an "unbelievable volume" of homophobic abuse in his first three weeks as defence secretary, more than he had experienced in his entire life before taking the post. Speaking on the All Talk podcast with Iain Dale at the Edinburgh Fringe, Streeting attributed the hostility to people who "cannot cope with the idea that a gay person might lead the armed forces of the United Kingdom." He contrasted the online reaction with the response in the media. "Being the first openly gay defence secretary has been almost entirely unremarked upon in the media," he said.

"And I think, 'Great, here we are in the third decade of the 21st century and it doesn't matter, brilliant.' But of course, online it matters to a lot of people." Streeting said the abuse had not shaken his resolve. He described the role as "an opportunity for me to demonstrate strength" and "to challenge the sort of stereotype that clearly persists in dark corners of the internet." The UK armed forces banned gay and lesbian personnel until 2000, when the policy was overturned.

Before that, homosexuality had been decriminalised in civilian life in 1967, but military rules continued to treat it as a disciplinary offence. Streeting noted that some colleagues inside the Ministry of Defence had welcomed his appointment. "In my first week, someone in the MoD said to me, 'As a gay man, I'm really proud that we have our first gay defence secretary. It means a lot to us who remember the bad old days.' So I was quite touched by that," he said. The podcast appearance was recorded at the Edinburgh Fringe, where Streeting discussed his political journey, including his decision not to challenge Andy Burnham for the Labour leadership and his resignation as health secretary under Keir Starmer.

Streeting said his resignation had "forced choices for others" and that Burnham would "probably not" have become prime minister without it.