Wes Streeting

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has faced a surge in online homophobia since his appointment as defence secretary.

Streeting said he had received an 'unbelievable volume' of abuse because people couldn't cope with the idea of an openly gay person leading the armed forces.

In an interview with the Iain Dale All Talk podcast at the Edinburgh Fringe, he said his new role was an opportunity for him to demonstrate strength and challenge the sort of stereotype that clearly persists in dark corners of the internet.

Homosexuality started being decriminalised in the UK in 1967, but a ban continued in the armed forces until 2000.

Streeting also received congratulations from people in the Ministry of Defence for being a symbol of progress, with one saying to him: 'As a gay man, I'm really proud that we have our first gay defence secretary - It means a lot to many of us who remember the bad old days. ' He was touched by this response.

He added that being the first openly gay defence secretary has been almost entirely unremarked upon in the media. Streeting's appointment comes as the UK continues to make progress on LGBTQ+ rights, including a recent announcement of up to £70K in compensation for veterans who were dismissed due to their sexual orientation.

He said: 'I was dismissed from the Navy for being gay' and added that he is proud of the fact that in his lifetime we've gone from gay people not being able to serve in the military to a gay defence secretary. He also received congratulations from PM Boris Johnson for his appointment, with one saying: 'It means a lot to many of us who remember the bad old days. ' Streeting said he was touched by this response.

He added that online homophobia is a persistent issue and that being the first openly gay defence secretary has been almost entirely unremarked upon in the media. He also received congratulations from people in the Ministry of Defence for being a symbol of progress, with one saying to him: 'As a gay man, I'm really proud that we have our first