UKIP politician who blamed floods on gay marriage refuses to resign

David Silvester, who blamed Britain's recent floods on gay marriage, has refused to apologize or step down as town councilor

28 January 2014 | By Liam Johnson

David Silvester, the former UK politician who blamed gay people for flooding, has said he has no plans to resign.
The 73-year-old UKIP councilor was suspended from the party following his offensive comments about gay people earlier this month.
While he says he has had 70 messages of support from fellow Christians and UKIP members, more than 12,000 people in Henley have signed a petition calling for him to resign.
However, Silvester has refused to apologize.
Speaking to local newspaper Henley Standard he said: ‘I understand there has been a petition to have me removed from my post as a councillor but I have no intention of resigning. I don’t see any need to apologise and I stand by what I said.’
‘I was elected for a four-year term of office and I have every intention of continuing to work hard for the people of Henley in that capacity. If UKIP no longer require my services, my intention will be to serve as an independent.’
On 25 January, the outraged people of Henley organized a small protest outside the town hall. They held placards saying 'Love Thy Neighbour'.
After the uproar Silvester caused, he is still resolute that homosexuality is a 'spiritual disease' and can be cured.
He defected from the Conservatives to UKIP in 2013 because he did not agree with their stance on same-sex marriage.