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| Gay marriage: All Welsh Tory MPs to vote against bill | Gay marriage: All Welsh Tory MPs to vote against bill |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| All Welsh Conservative MPs are set to vote against legalising gay marriage. | All Welsh Conservative MPs are set to vote against legalising gay marriage. |
| The eight-strong Tory contingent from Wales have confirmed they will oppose plans in the Commons later on Tuesday. | The eight-strong Tory contingent from Wales have confirmed they will oppose plans in the Commons later on Tuesday. |
| The issue has caused a split in the Tory party, with many MPs expected to use a free vote in the Commons to oppose a bill. | The issue has caused a split in the Tory party, with many MPs expected to use a free vote in the Commons to oppose a bill. |
| But while Welsh Liberal Democrat, Plaid Cymru and most Labour MPs will vote for the proposal, the Labour former Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy will oppose it. | But while Welsh Liberal Democrat, Plaid Cymru and most Labour MPs will vote for the proposal, the Labour former Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy will oppose it. |
| Mr Murphy, the Torfaen MP and a papal knight, said he opposed the redefinition of marriage, although he supports civil partnership. | Mr Murphy, the Torfaen MP and a papal knight, said he opposed the redefinition of marriage, although he supports civil partnership. |
| As they have a free vote MPs are able to vote according to their conscience rather than along party lines. | As they have a free vote MPs are able to vote according to their conscience rather than along party lines. |
| However, the plans have been strongly backed by Prime Minister David Cameron. Culture Secretary Maria Miller has said that allowing same sex couples to marry is the "right thing to do". | However, the plans have been strongly backed by Prime Minister David Cameron. Culture Secretary Maria Miller has said that allowing same sex couples to marry is the "right thing to do". |
| The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill would enable same-sex couples to get married in both civil and religious ceremonies, where a religious institution had formally consented, in England and Wales. | The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill would enable same-sex couples to get married in both civil and religious ceremonies, where a religious institution had formally consented, in England and Wales. |
| It would also allow couples who had previously entered into civil partnerships to convert their relationship into a marriage. | It would also allow couples who had previously entered into civil partnerships to convert their relationship into a marriage. |
| Welsh Secretary David Jones and Wales Office minister Stephen Crabb said the vote was a conscience issue but declined to give interviews on the subject. | Welsh Secretary David Jones and Wales Office minister Stephen Crabb said the vote was a conscience issue but declined to give interviews on the subject. |
| Two prominent local Tories, Peter Davies and Rene Kinzett, have explained their opposing views on the issue. | |
| Another, Roy Garner, the former chairman of Monmouth Conservative Association, told BBC Radio Wales that there was no appetite for a fight at grassroots level. | |
| He said the matter would count at the ballot box. | |
| "There comes a point as the Labour Party found in the '70s where there was a step too far and the SDP was born as a result of it. | |
| "So Cameron's got to decide just how far he's pushing working supporters on this and frankly I think he's pushing them too far." | |
| However, Rene Kinzett, who chairs the Tory Reform Group in Wales, said a change in the law would "recognise that couples in same sex relationships deserve the same rights and should be subject to the same responsibilities as opposite sex couples". | However, Rene Kinzett, who chairs the Tory Reform Group in Wales, said a change in the law would "recognise that couples in same sex relationships deserve the same rights and should be subject to the same responsibilities as opposite sex couples". |
| This will be MPs' first debate and vote on the bill. Reports suggest upwards of 120 Tory MPs could vote against the plans, including some cabinet ministers. | This will be MPs' first debate and vote on the bill. Reports suggest upwards of 120 Tory MPs could vote against the plans, including some cabinet ministers. |
| The measure is expected to get through, with most on the Labour and Lib Dem benches supporting it. | The measure is expected to get through, with most on the Labour and Lib Dem benches supporting it. |
| 'Insult to tradition' | |
| On Sunday, more than 20 current and former constituency chairmen delivered a letter to 10 Downing Street urging the prime minister to delay any parliamentary decision on gay marriage until after the next election. | On Sunday, more than 20 current and former constituency chairmen delivered a letter to 10 Downing Street urging the prime minister to delay any parliamentary decision on gay marriage until after the next election. |
| They warned of "significant damage to the Conservative Party in the run-up to the 2015 election" if the plans enter law. | They warned of "significant damage to the Conservative Party in the run-up to the 2015 election" if the plans enter law. |
| However, the culture secretary, who is leading the bill through Parliament, defended the proposals, saying marriage as an institution had always evolved and would continue to do so. | However, the culture secretary, who is leading the bill through Parliament, defended the proposals, saying marriage as an institution had always evolved and would continue to do so. |
| Canon Andrew Knight, the vicar of Sketty in Swansea, who is opposed to gay marriage, told BBC Radio Wales that more time was needed to examine the impact of civil partnership . | Canon Andrew Knight, the vicar of Sketty in Swansea, who is opposed to gay marriage, told BBC Radio Wales that more time was needed to examine the impact of civil partnership . |
| "This is an insult not only to the Christian tradition of 2,000 years, but to the Muslim tradition and the Jewish tradition, and in fact the whole tradition of Western religion right the way back," said Canon Knight. | "This is an insult not only to the Christian tradition of 2,000 years, but to the Muslim tradition and the Jewish tradition, and in fact the whole tradition of Western religion right the way back," said Canon Knight. |
| "Are we going to say that teachers must teach equivalence or are we going to wait until we can say how does civil partnership affect the physical and mental health of those involved as compared to straight couples?" | "Are we going to say that teachers must teach equivalence or are we going to wait until we can say how does civil partnership affect the physical and mental health of those involved as compared to straight couples?" |
| But the Reverend Andrew Morton, who last year resigned as vicar of Llangybi in Monmouthshire over the issue of gay marriage, maintained there was no reason for further delays. | But the Reverend Andrew Morton, who last year resigned as vicar of Llangybi in Monmouthshire over the issue of gay marriage, maintained there was no reason for further delays. |
| "Certainly my issue with the church at large is that... in many respects it is misogynistic and homophobic - and I think the debate has been going on for a long time, he said. | "Certainly my issue with the church at large is that... in many respects it is misogynistic and homophobic - and I think the debate has been going on for a long time, he said. |
| "We have got to finally sort it out as a Christian institution." | "We have got to finally sort it out as a Christian institution." |