Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Governor of California, has been told by Harriet Harman to shut down a prostitute website based in his state which reviews British prostitutes.
Miss Harman, the Equalities Minister, called for “PunterNet” to be closed down.
She was speaking at the Labour Party Conference and said the website was “truly degrading”.
Miss Harman also said it “fuels the demand for prostitutes”.
She continued: “Punternet has pages and pages of women for sale in London.
“But Punternet is based in California so I’ve raised it with the US Ambassador to London and I’ve called on California’s governor Arnie Schwarzenegger to close it down.
“Surely it can’t be too difficult for the Terminator to terminate Punternet and that’s what I am demanding that he does.”
According to newspaper reports, Miss Harman added: “And if he doesn’t, I have got a message for Arnie: I will be back.”
Miss Harman also spoke about the Labour Party’s record on ‘equality’ and the new Equality Bill.
She said: “Gordon Brown, as Prime Minister, has indeed taken a proud lead. Last year, for the first time ever, a British prime minister hosted a reception in 10 Downing Street to mark LGBT history month”.
But faith groups have raised concerns about how the Equality Bill may impact religious liberty.
The Government has made clear that certain provisions in the Bill are intended to make sure churches can no longer insist that employees such as youth workers live lives consistent with the churches’ teaching on sexual ethics.
If the Bill becomes law, it will place a duty on public bodies – like the police and local councils – to promote homosexual and transsexual equality.
Critics of the Equality Bill are concerned about the costly burdens it would place on businesses already under pressure due to the economic downturn.
Miss Harman is believed to have clashed with Business Secretary Lord Mandelson who wants the Bill shelved or its scope reduced.