Just imagine what your best Christmas ever would sound like.

Thank you for calling National Lottery. I can see you calling about a winner today, is that correct?

Yeah, I think I have. I'd just take to double check before I do a cartwheel.

Yeah, I can confirm that you have won the top prize 1.2 million oh my

what happy Christmas why do now you have the best Christmas ever this Christmas it could be you. The National Lottery. Rules and procedures apply. Players must be

18 or over. Hello and welcome to the Red Box Politics Podcast from The Times, I'm Matt Chorley.

This is the first in a two-part special to mark Pride week looking at the politics of

pride and as this month marks 50 years since the Sexual Offenses Act 1967 decriminalized

homosexuality between men in England and Wales, half a century on where

the battles now lie for the LGBTQ community. In the next episode I was speaking to

Justin Gleaning the Education Sector Equality's Minister about what more government needs to do to tackle

homophobia. Later in this episode I'll speak to Labour MP Angela Eagle, but first I'm joined in the studio

by James Holt from Pride, Times columnist Matthew Paris and

SMP, M.P. Stuart McDonald, welcome to you all.

Now, in all the drama of the general election, it went almost unnoticed that Britain

elected a record 45 out MPs that 7% of the House of Commons

the highest level of representation anywhere in the world includes 19 Tories, 19

Labour MPs and 7 from the SMP in Leo Vardker.

Ireland has its first gay tea shop.

Four of Scotland's party leaders are gay.

So I suppose my first question is, is it any longer a big deal to be a gay politician?

Let's start with you Stuart.

...