Alan Duncan describes Labour as the ‘nasty party’ after Ben Bradshaw points to ‘deep strain of homophobia’ within Conservative party

Ben Bradshaw, the culture secretary, triggered a bitter row today after claiming that “a deep strain of homophobia” existed among Tory MPs.

Alan Duncan, the shadow leader of the Commons, claimed that the comment was “simply untrue” and that it showed that Labour was “actually the nasty party”.

The two men – who are both gay – clashed ahead of the Gay Pride march in London tomorrow, which Sarah Brown, the prime minister’s wife, is due to attend.

Earlier this week David Cameron spoke at a Gay Pride event and apologised for the fact that the Tories introduced section 28, the law banning the “promotion” of homosexuality in schools, in the 1980s.

Cameron, who voted against the repeal of section 28 in 2003, said: “I am sorry for section 28. We got it wrong. It was an emotional issue. I hope you can forgive us.”

Following Cameron’s comments, two Labour ministers told the BBC that the Tory leader’s words should not obscure his party’s anti-gay record.

Bradshaw said: “I hope that people in the lesbian, gay and transgender community will closely examine the Conservatives’ record on this, and David Cameron’s record in particular, which is not good.”

He went on: “A deep strain of homophobia still exists on the Conservative benches”.

Chris Bryant, the Foreign Office minister, who is also gay, claimed that Cameron could be pushed into rolling back some of the pro-gay reforms introduced by Labour if he won the election.

“I think if gays vote Tory, they will rue the day very soon,” he said.

But today Duncan told the London Evening Standard that Bradshaw and Bryant were “trying to stir up hatred and division” and that the Tories were not homophobic.

“I believed we had reached the happy point where politics had been taken out of this altogether. But these remarks show that Labour is actually the nasty party,” Duncan said.

“I have publicly paid tribute to Tony Blair for his achievements, particularly on introducing civil partnerships. David Cameron this week said that on section 28 we had to admit we got it wrong. The party has changed. I bet in Labour backwaters there are plenty of people who don’t like the fact that Ben Bradshaw is gay.”

A survey of Tory candidates in winnable seats published on the ConservativeHome website today shows that 62% think same-sex couples should have the same rights as married couples, but that 31% disagree.