No10 backs Kelly on equalities

Downing Street has defended the decision to appoint Ruth Kelly as cabinet minister for equalities.

The devoutly Catholic communities secretary came in for criticism earlier in the week when she refused to say whether she thought homosexuality was a sin.

Asked the question in an interview on Radio Five Live, she refused to say, replying: "I don't think it is right for politicians to start making moral judgements about people."

Kelly has missed 12 Commons votes on gay rights and equalities issues since becoming an MP, but said she had shown as a minister in a series of jobs that she is committed to the government's agenda.

"I'm sort of getting used to these questions as I go from one department to another," she said.

"Is it possible to be a practising Catholic and hold a portfolio in government? The answer is 'yes'.

"Why? Because I'm collectively responsible for cabinet decisions and I firmly believe in equality and I believe everyone should be protected from discrimination."

And Number 10 gave her Tony Blair's full backing on Wednesday when asked whether Kelly's new responsibilities for equality were compatible with her religious beliefs.

"Ruth Kelly has repeatedly said she is committed to the equality agenda, to fighting discrimination of any kind in the workplace and it is a matter she led on when she was in the Cabinet Office. Her commitment to that is absolute," the prime minister's official spokesman said.

"She also fully expressed her belief in and support for the collective responsibility principle in cabinet."

Pressed on Kelly's voting record on gay adoption, the spokesman added that "she fully recognises it is government policy and she supports government policy".

"She said it is a well accepted principle that people can express their view in the Commons but once something becomes government policy, all the government fully support it," Downing Street argued.