2003.11.02 The Guardian
Naturists of the UK unite, you have nothing to lose but your clothes. Rise up in all your naked glory, David Blunkett salutes you.
Until now Whitehall insiders could have been forgiven for not knowing that the Home Secretary is someone sympathetic to the joys of wandering starkers around a campsite.
But in a move that is likely to endear New Labour to the pro-nudity lobby, Blunkett is set to scrap a controversial clause in the Sexual Offences Bill that could have seen naturists locked up for walking around in the buff.
The original wording of clause 67b of the Bill, which will this week have its third reading in Parliament, stipulated that a person commits an offence if he exposes his genitals and ' knows or intends that someone will see them...'.
As naturists obviously 'know' that others on designated nudist campsites and beaches can see them, the clause caused alarm. Those found guilty of causing such an offence could have faced prison for up to two years.
British Naturism, which represents the interests of naturists, mounted a lobbying campaign in the House of Lords and threatened to take the issue to the European Court of Human Rights.
Perhaps drawing on the example of the Countryside Alliance, which built a powerful coalition of interests around the anti-hunting Bill, British Naturism harnessed support from other quarters. The organisation warned that not only would the millions of Britons who have enjoyed the au naturel experience be guilty of committing a criminal act, so too would streakers and pagan revellers who dance naked in fertility ceremonies.
Now, though, the Government has sided with the naturists, removing the words 'knows or intends' from clause 67b.
'We're grateful that they have made the change and this is a great step forward,' said Mick Ayers, Chairman of British Naturism.
