I have just received an email from Philippa Stroud confirming the following statement from her in response to this story in the Observer:

“I make no apology for being a committed Christian. However, it is categorically untrue that I believe homosexuality to be an illness and I am deeply offended that The Observer has suggested otherwise. I have spent 20 years working with disturbed people who society have turned their back on and are not often supported by state agencies; drug addicts, alcoholics, the mentally ill and the homeless that I and my charitable friends in the public sector have tried to help over the years. The idea that I am prejudiced against gay people is both false and insulting.”

I do not speak for Mrs Stroud or the Conservative Party and I have no other information on this matter than what I have posted here.

Hat tip to Cardiff Blogger (@cardiff_blogger) for posting this first.