As a rational, liberal-minded sort of bloke, he considers the English class structure to be a piece of antiquated and retrogressive nonsense.

ECONOMIST: English snobbery

Secularists had insisted that to do otherwise in either Ms Ladele's or Mr McFarlane's case would be demeaning to gay people, and "retrogressive".

BBC: Analysis: Milestone left in Christian-secular debate

Should the bill become law, Parliament will have put itself in "the very odd and retrogressive situation of being less open than the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh and Northern Irish assemblies" he continued.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Wales | Brunstrom attacks MPs on privacy