A devout Roman Catholic, she also pointedly declined to endorse same-sex civil partnerships and adoptions by gay couples, which were backed overwhelmingly by Labour MPs.

The Times reported yesterday that Ms Kelly, 38, had been absent from every important vote on homosexual equality since Labour came to power in 1997.

As a member of Opus Dei, the inspiration for Dan Brown’s novel The Da Vinci Code, Ms Kelly is required to extend the “holiness” of the sect’s beliefs into her working life. Opus Dei regards practising homosexuals as serious sinners.

John Denham, the Labour chairman of the Commons Home Affairs select committee, said: “It is obvious that the introduction of civil partnerships for gay people was one of the most significant and positive things this Government has done. It is essential that any minister with responsibility for these issues feels comfortable with that agenda.”

Asked if she regarded homosexuality as a sin, Ms Kelly declined to say. She said: “Is it possible to be a practising Catholic and hold a portfolio in government. The answer is yes. Why? Because I am collectively responsible for Cabinet decisions, I firmly believe in equality and that everyone should be free of discrimination and I will fight to the end to make sure that’s the case. I think everyone in society should be given the opportunity to fulfil their potential .” When asked the question again, she said: “I don’t think it’s right for politicians to start making moral judgments about people, it’s the last thing I want to do or want to get into.” Pressed on BBC Radio 5 Live about her voting record, she said: “Everybody is entitled to express their views in free votes on matters of conscience.”

Ms Kelly enraged equal rights campaigners further, when she told Sky News that she would not support civil partnerships and gay couples adopting: “As a private individual on votes of conscience I will express my views in the way that I think fit.”

Yet when she was made Education Secretary last year Ms Kelly, a mother of four, was responsible for millions of pounds of government funding for research into stem cells, which is fiercely opposed by the Roman Catholic Church.

“I am a member of this Government and I will not only stand by the policies of this Government, but also, where I am responsible for implementing them, I will,” she said at the time.

Labour MPs were scornful of Ms Kelly’s move during the Cabinet reshuffle from education to the Communities and Local Government portfolio, which includes the equality brief. One minister said: “This either speaks volumes about our commitment to equality or it is another sign that the reshuffle was not thought through properly.”

Gwyneth Dunwoody, the veteran Labour MP, said: “I am glad the Prime Minister has a sense of humour when it comes to appointing a Minister for Women and Equality. I look forward to developments with great interest.”

Ms Kelly faced further criticisism yesterday when she attended a meeting with key members of the proposed Commission for Equality and Human rights. Trevor Phillips, the chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality, and Jenny Watson, the chairwoman of the Equal Opportunities Commission, were present but there was no room for Stonewall, the gay rights organisation. Ben Summerskill, the Stonewall chief executive, said: “It is curious as normally we would expect to be invited to something with the CRE and EOC.”

Ms Kelly will have to champion the Equality Bill, which will make it illegal for hotels and bed-and-breakfast owners to turn away same-sex couples.

Pledge to root out 'nimbyism'

THE Government mounted a strong attack yesterday against “nimbyism”, arguing that residents who complained about council houses in their neighbourhood should be “rooted out” (Jill Sherman writes).

Ruth Kelly, the new Communities Secretary, said that she would press ahead with John Prescott’s programme to build 200,000 houses in the South East, including social housing, despite heavy opposition from local residents.

Ms Kelly said that building more social and affordable houses would be a “personal priority” in her new job and indicated that she wanted to change planning laws to speed up new accommodation developments.

Her comments on BBC Radio 4 came as Labour MPs and Shelter, the homelessness charity, gave warning that the Government’s failure to address a crisis in social housing was providing ammunition for the British National Party.

Adam Sampson, director of Shelter, claimed a shortage of affordable homes was fuelling a “blame culture” in which white people accuse council housing departments of favouring ethnic minorities.

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